- Senior Tionna Lidge notches first career double-double (11 pts/10 reb)
- Jaguars hold opponents to season's second-lowest scoring total
- Program secures seventh NCAA bid since 2002 dynasty began
The Southern Jaguars demonstrated why they lead the SWAC in defensive efficiency, holding Alcorn State to 28% shooting in Saturday's championship clash. Senior captain Tionna Lidge anchored both ends of the court, contributing 11 rebounds alongside her 11 points to secure her first collegiate double-double.
After a tight first quarter, Southern's signature full-court pressure triggered a game-changing 14-0 run. The Jaguars forced seven turnovers during Alcorn State's 7:30 scoring drought, converting defensive stops into transition buckets. This marked the 18th time this season Southern has held opponents under 60 points.
Regional Insight: SWAC champions have advanced past the NCAA first round only twice since 1994. Southern's last tournament appearance in 2021 saw them push #3 seed Georgia to overtime before falling 87-82.
Industry Analysis: Teams ranking top-30 nationally in turnovers forced (like Southern's 20.2 per game) win 68% of conference tournament games according to Her Hoop Stats data. The Jaguars' 23 takeaways proved instrumental in overcoming their regular-season loss to Alcorn State.
With the NCAA auto-bid secured, Southern now prepares for what could be their toughest defensive challenge yet. The Jaguars have surrendered 72+ points in all six previous NCAA tournament losses. Coach Carlos Funchess emphasized post-game: Our defense travels, but we'll need offensive consistency from our bench to spring an upset.