Bama State Ladies Make It Back To Back
HOUSTON, Texas – Alabama State made history after winning the 2016 Toyota SWAC Basketball Tournament for the second year in a row. The Lady Hornets defeated Southern 55-51 Saturday afternoon at the Toyota Center.
Britney Wright was named tournament MVP after scoring a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Wright was joined in double figures by Daniele Ewert, who registered 12 points and five rebounds. She was voted to the All-Tournament team as well. Jasmine Peeples put up nine points while grabbing five boards.
Briana Green led the Jaguars with 16 points, while Cortnei Purnell assisted the team with a total 11 points with seven rebounds. Britney Washington contributed seven points with three rebounds, and Miaya Crowder grabbed a team-high eight boards.
Ewert put in work during the first half of the game, scoring 12 points all off three-pointers. She shot 83.3 percent from the field, netting five of her six attempts. Ewert and Wright were the only two student-athletes to hit in three-point range – with Wright managing a total eight points in the first two quarters. The Lady Hornets shot at 48.3 percent from the field and held the lead the entire first half.
The Jaguars took 22 points in the first two quarters with Green recording seven points followed by Crowder who earned six points, each with three rebounds.
SUBR sprung into action during the third period, closing the scoring gap from 14 points to just six. Purnell captured five points during the session, while green provided four points.
The Jaguars continued to pull forward in the fourth with seconds left on the clock. With just three points of difference between the two teams (54-51), a foul to Wright allowed one extra point for the Lady Hornets’ win.
With this win, Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson earns her third SWAC tournament crown and the fourth title in school history.
The All-Tournament team was also selected. The entire list is below:
MVP Britney Wright
All-Tournament Team Britney Wright – Alabama State Briana Green - Southern Daniele Ewert – Alabama State Jasmine Peeples – Alabama State Joyce Kennerson – Texas Southern