March 13, 2009

Deidra Jackson scored a season-high 23 points and Jamie Floyd added 10 points and 12 rebounds for her third double double of the season to pace the Southern University Jaguars to a 64-56 win over Mississippi Valley State in the first semifinal of the 2009 SWAC Basketball Tournament.

Trailing 31-25 at the half, Sandy Pugh turned up the heat on defense, and the ladies responded and walked down the Delta Devilettes, outscoring MVSU by 14 in the second half, 39-25.

"This was a great win for us", responded head coach, Sandy Pugh. "Nate Kilbert does a great job with his team, and they got us twice during the regular season. I knew if we just kept playing, our shots would begin to fall, and they did. It is great to get our program back to the SWAC Championship game. It's the first time since 2005", says Pugh.

SU dominated the points in the paint with a 28-18 advantage, while also out dueling MVSU 16-9 in second chance points. SU's bench outscored Mississippi Valley State's 20-11. The score was tied eight different times, and the lead also changed seven times.

Southern will play the winner of #1 seed, Prairie View A&M/#4 UA-Pine Bluff at 4:00 pm at Birmingham's Fair Park Arena. The game will be shown "live" on ESPNU.