Southern University Lady Jaguars Crowned 2023 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament Champions
The Southern University Lady Jaguars have been crowned the 2023 SWAC Women's Basketball Tournament Champions after defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62-52 in the Final. The victory punches the Lady Jaguars' ticket to their first NCAA Tournament Appearance since 2019.
Southern was down by two points to the Lady Golden Lions at halftime and was down 41-38 after three periods. However, the Lady Jags blazed to a 24-12 final quarter scoring 66.7% from the floor, while Southern's defense held UAPB to 26.7%.
Coach Funchess' team scored the knock out, winning on fast break points (6), points off turnovers (10), paint points (24-to-22), 60% in 3-point shots, eight defensive rebounds, and 55 court points vs. Pine Bluff's 21.
Southern took the lead at 5:54 in the 4th quarter and never looked back.
It was a winding road for the Lady Jaguars (18-14 overall, 12-6 SWAC), featuring them to shock and upset the defending conference champion Jackson State in the semifinals at the buzzer.
One of the semifinal heroes, Amani Mcwain, capped out an outstanding tournament run with 15 points on six of fifteen shooting, including three made threes. Backcourt running mate Genovea Johnson added a team-high 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter that helped spearhead Southern's backbreaking final period. The duo of McWain and Johnson combined for 33 of the team's 62 points.
The Lady Golden Lions (14-17 overall, 10-8 in conference play) executed consecutive upsets in the tournament against Alabama A&M and Alabama State to propel themselves to the title game.
Thanks to defensive breakdowns and a cold stretch of offensive possessions in the 4th stanza contributed to Arkansas-Pine Bluff's downfall.
UAPB scored just three points in the final 4:49 and finished the afternoon shooting a woeful 10 of 26 from the free-throw line.
This weekend's tournaments will decide the Jaguars' opponent in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. They hope to have a slightly better outing than in 2019 when eventual Elite Eight participant Mississippi State beat them.
The NCAA selection committee will announce the official seeding on Sunday, March 12.