Courtesy: JSU Athletics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.| The Jackson State women’s basketball team held Alcorn State to just 20 percent from beyond the 3-point arc in a 3-for-15 shooting performance on the way to a 68-44 victory over the Braves at Bartow Arena Saturday in the 2024 SWAC Starry Women’s Basketball Championship game.
JSU won their ninth SWAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship and their third under head coach Tomekia Reed.
Andriana Avent led the Tigers with 17 points, one of three players who scored in double figures. Ti’lan Boler added 13 points and seven rebounds, and Hayleigh Breland chipped in with 11 points and three steals off the bench.
Jackson State pulled down 18 boards that led to 13 second-chance points, thanks in large part to Zakiya Mahoney’s five offensive rebounds. The Tigers came away with 10 blocks. Angel Jackson’s six rejections led the way individually for the Tigers.
How It Happened
- Jackson State (26-6, 18-0 SWAC) started out the scoring by going on an 8-0 run to take an early lead with 6:23 left in the first quarter.
- The Tigers then added one point to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter-break with a 17-8 advantage.
- Jackson State capitalized on five Alcorn State turnovers in the period, turning them into six points on the other end of the floor.
- JSU built that first-quarter lead to 24-12 before going on a 9-0 run starting at the 2:30 mark in the second period to increase its lead to 33-12, a score that would hold until halftime. Jackson State forced five Alcorn State turnovers in the period and turned them into eight points.
- The Tigers continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on an 11-0 run to expand its lead further to 46-18 with 3:12 to go in the third.
- Before the conclusion of the third period, the Braves had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Tigers still entered the fourth quarter with a 50-23 edge.
- Jackson State’s bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled 10 of the team’s 17 third-quarter points.
- The Tigers then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Jackson State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 18 points.
Inside the Numbers
- Jackson State lit it up from three-point land, knocking down 10 treys in the game.
- The Tigers held the Braves to only 24.1 percent shooting from the field.
- JSU never trailed after taking a 17-8 first-quarter lead.
- Jackson State had a great day defensively, holding Alcorn State to 20 percent from beyond the arc on 15 attempts.
- The Jackson State bench made an impact by adding 41 points to its scoring output.
- Andriana Avent and Breland came off the bench to score 17 and 11 points, respectively.
- Jackson State had a 58-37 edge on the boards in the win.
- The Tigers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording 10 blocks as a team.
- Jackson State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
- Avent led the Tigers with a game-high 17 points.
- Jackson State got a game-high nine rebounds from Angel Jackson and Miya Crump.
All-Tournament Team
Amiah Simmons, Alabama A&M
Zaay Green, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Destiny Brown, Alcorn State
Ti’Ian Boler, Jackson State
Andriana Avent, Jackson State (MVP)
Up Next
The Tigers will find out who they play next on Sunday at 7 p.m. during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Show, which will air live on ESPN.