STANFORD, CA – March is a month of madness, and the Southern University women's basketball team has made some of their own. The Lady Jaguars have won five straight, nine of their last 10, heading into their First Four matchup against Sacred Heart University at Maples Pavilion on Wednesday in Stanford, California. The game is slated to tipoff at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
Southern (18-14, 12-6) has not lost since a 57-50 setback against Florida A&M back on February 27. Since then, the Lady Jaguars have won every game in March by different means.
 
Sacred Heart (18-13, 12-4), winners of the Northeast Conference tournament, is on a five-game winning streak of their own.
 
The first three games in the streak had Southern dominating their opponents by a 17.3 ppg margin of victory, including a 64-37 win over Prairie View A&M to open the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.
 
The semifinals against Jackson State turned into an instant classic. Down five with 13 seconds left, Genovea Johnson sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead down to two at 61-59. After two JSU free throws, Aleighyah Fontenot would sink her second 3 of the game with 10 seconds remaining, bringing the Lady Jaguars within one. The Tigers would make one of two free throws and Fontenot would come in clutch with a running 3 from the top of the key with 0.4 seconds remaining to send the Lady Jaguars to the championship game, 65-64.
 
The SWAC championship game saw Southern fall behind the University of Arkansas -Pine Bluff by six with under 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The Lady Jaguars would shift into another gear and outscore the Golden Lions 33-18 to finish the game and punch their ticket to the "Big Dance."
 
Southern comes into the game averaging 57.8 points, 31.6 rebounds and 9 steals per game.
 
Johnson is the only Lady Jaguars averaging in double figures at 11.4 ppg. Five other Southern players average over 5 ppg. Amani Mcwain is second on the team at 9.3, followed by Fontenot at 6.8. Raven White at 6.4, Tyeniesha Metcalf at 5.8 and Diamond Hunter at 5.3 round out the top six scoring threats.
 
The Pioneers come into the game averaging 62.9 ppg and give up 58.6.
 
Sacred Heart is led by Ny'Ceara Pryor at 18.2 and Sajada Bonner at 11 ppg. Rounding out the top five for the Pioneers is Amelia Wood at 7.6, Olivia Tucker with 7.1 and Sierra Johnson at 5.6.
 
The winner of the First Four will take on No. 1 Stanford on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 2.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports (Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com.

#GoJags    #ProwlOn   #SouthernIsTheStandard   #WeAreSouthern