Junior forward Alyric Scott's 16 points powered Southern University to a 68-60 win over Alabama A&M Saturday afternoon to remain in first place of the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings.
The win also pushed the Jaguars closer to clinching the top overall seed in next month's SWAC Basketball Tournament. The top four teams in the league standings will host the first round of the postseason tournament on their home floor before the tournament moves to the Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham for the semifinals and championship rounds.
Scott fell one rebound shy of recording her second straight double-double, grabbing nine rebounds to go with her game-high 16 points. The Richton, Miss native was 5 of 12 from the field, including 2 of 3 from long range, and was 4 of 6 from the free throw line. Scott is averaging 15.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game during the Jaguars current three-win streak.
Teammate Taneara Moore was pivotal in the win, snatching a game high 11 rebounds. Moore, along with Skylar O'Bear and Rishonti Coward, added eight points each as nine Jaguars scored in the win.
After Alabama A&M went on a 9-0 run to take a 12-8 lead, Southern's Amani McWain hit a baseline jumper to spark a 12-4 run to close the first quarter. Daneya Charles' layup and O'Bear's jumper opened the second quarter and the Jaguars lead ballooned to eight before the Bulldogs rallied with a 11-4 spurt capped by Nigeria Jones basket to trim SU lead to three.
O'Bear added another jumper and Ashlyn Dotson went 1 for 2 at the foul line to end the first half scoring at 32-28. In the second half, the Jaguars lead grew as large as 12 but was never closer than four the final 6:37 after Carnethia Brown's three-pointer trimmed the margin to 47-43 in the fourth.
Despite the Bulldogs shooting 36 free throws, Southern's suffocating defense limited A&M to just 26 percent shooting in the second half. The Jaguars forced 10 Bulldog turnovers and held a substantial 18-4 margin in second chance points.
The Jaguars dominated on the glass with a 51-34 advantage in rebounds.
Southern focus shifts to a pivotal SWAC matchup Monday night when the Jaguars welcome Alabama State to the F.G. Clark Activity Center at 5:30 p.m. The Hornets trail SU for first place by a game and a half but will enter Monday's game looking for the season sweep after handing the Jaguars a 78-61 loss in January, their worst conference loss this season.
and give the Jaguars control going into halftime.
