JACKSON, MS — Southern University left no doubt Thursday evening, rolling to a 67-43 victory over Jackson State at the Williams Center behind relentless defense, balanced scoring, and overwhelming depth.

The Jaguars jumped out early, built a commanding halftime cushion, and never let Jackson State find any rhythm as they improved to 11-8 overall and 7-1 in SWAC play. Jackson State fell to 5-15 and 3-5 in SWAC play. 

Southern led for 38:23 of 40 minutes of play, stretched the margin to as many as 34 points, and held the Lady Tigers to 25 percent shooting for the game. The Jaguars shot 47.9 percent from the floor and controlled the game with depth and balance, outscoring Jackson State 36-9 off the bench.

Zaria Hurston, Mykayla Cunningham and Demonnie Lagway each scored 10 points each to lead Southern, while Anaja Hall added eight points and provided rim protection in limited minutes. Southern outscored Jackson State 23-10 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach

Keys to the Game

Defense set the tone

Southern smothered Jackson State from the opening tip, holding the Lady Tigers to just 6 points in the first quarter and 17 points in the first half. Jackson State shot 3-0f-17 (17.6%) in the opening period and never recovered.

Bench dominance

Southern's depth was decisive. The Jaguars outscored Jackson State 36-9 in bench points, allowing the lead to balloon even with frequent substitutions.

Efficiency vs. struggles

Southern shot 47.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three, while Jackson State managed just 25.0 percent overall and 16.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Third-quarter surge

Any hope of a comeback ended after halftime when Southern outscored Jackson State 23-10 in the third quarter, pushing the lead past 30 by the end of the period.

Notable Performances & Team Stats

• Zaria Hurston stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 5 assists, and steady defense, setting the tone on both ends.

• Mykayla Cunningham added 10 points, finishing efficiently around the basket.

• Demonnie Lagway chipped in 10 points off the bench, highlighting Southern's depth.

Anaja Hall provided a spark inside with 8 points and multiple blocks in limited minutes

By the Numbers

67–43 – Final score
34 – Largest lead (Southern)
36–9 – Bench points advantage (Southern)
25.0% – Jackson State shooting
47.9% – Southern shooting
16–6 – First-quarter scoring edge for Southern
23–10 – Third-quarter scoring edge for Southern
38:23 – Time Southern held the lead
0 – Lead changes after the opening tip

Up Next

Southern continues SWAC play, looking to build on its momentum, as they travel to Lorman, MS to take on the Lady Braves of Alcorn State University on Thursday, January 29th at 1 PM. The game will be streamed live e on SWAC TV.

Tip-off: 1:00 p.m.
Opponent: Alcorn State University
Location:  Davey Whitney Complex
TV: SWAC TV

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