BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State found themselves down 17 with just four minutes remaining in the third quarter but came back to take the lead late in the fourth, before Jackson State was able to score late and hold on for a 67-66 win in the championship game of the 2021 Cricket Wireless Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championship game.

Alabama State (16-4) trailed 46-29 with 4:44 remaining in the third, trimming the deficit down to just four points in that same period before Jackson State pushed the lead back to nine in the fourth quarter at 59-50. The Lady Hornets pulled to within four at 61-57 with 3:08 remaining in the game on a Farrah Pearson lay-up, and then to within 61-60 on a three-point play by Ayana Emmanuel.

After a defensive stop, Alabama State took the lead with 2:06 remaining on an Emmanuel three-pointer (63-61) and then the two teams traded baskets until Pearson put the Lady Hornets up 66-65 with just 30 seconds remaining. Jackson State hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to take a 67-66 lead which prompted an Alabama State timeout.

Alabama State had a pair of good looks at the basket in the final three seconds before Jackson State cleared the rebound to claim the win and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the conference.

Emmanuel led the Lady Hornets with 17 points and four assists, while Tamirea Thomas added a career-high 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. Pearson added nine and Jayla Crawford eight for Alabama State who finished shooting 33.8 (23-for-68) percent from the floor and 26.7 (4-for-15) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 69.6 (16-for-23) percent from the free throw line.

Dayzsha Rogan led Jackson State with 25 points, while Cherrelle Jones added 13.

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