Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Small ball equals championship ball at Southern University. Playing back-to-back teams in the conference tournament with a height advantage didn’t faze the Jaguars. 
 
In the finale, Southern used its speed to defeat the taller Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 62-53 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game. 
 
“I knew it was going to be a hard-fought game. I just knew our team was going to be resilient. They wanted it deep in their heart,” Southern head coach Carlos Funchess said. 
 
This is the sixth SWAC Tournament title and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the Jaguars. Their last league crown was in 2019. Senior guard Amani McWain was named MVP of the tournament. She had 15 points, six points and three assists in the title game. In the three outings, she averaged 12.3 points.
 
“I’m happy to win another championship and winning MVP means a lot. This year had its ups and downs, but we pushed it out. We came out on top,” McWain said.
 
Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff played close throughout the day. The Jaguars pulled away in the fourth and doubled the Golden Lions’ point production 24-12 in the stanza. 
 
“The last two, three weeks, this team has been all business. They can put a win behind them. It’s about staying focused and being disciplined. This is what it takes. One team, one heartbeat,” Funchess said. 
 
Southern’s Genovea Johnson had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Taylor Williams finished with 10 points and five boards. Arkansas-Pine Bluff competed in its first-ever SWAC Championship Game. 

The Golden Lions led 41-38 entering the fourth quarter. However, a poor showing at the foul line allowed Southern to overtake them. The squad shot 10 of 26 on its free throws for the game.
 
“You cannot win a ballgame – a championship – shooting 38% from the free throw line,” Golden Lions head coach Dawn Thornton said. 
 
“Nothing stood out more than that. We were right there and they were fouling us. We weren’t able to capitalize and knock down those opportunities.” 
 
Demetria Shephard led Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 13 points. 

All-Tournament Team
Jayla Crawford, Alabama State
Daphane White, Jackson State
Coriah Beck, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Genovea Johnson, Southern
Amani Mcwain, Southern (MVP)
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.