With Southern sweeping the season series and winning the SWAC Regular Season Championship, the target was on its back as they entered the game looking to advance to its first SWAC Tourney Championship Game since 2010. Southern started off with a pair of four-point leads early on but an inspired PVAMU backcourt led by Gabrielle Scott, Jeanette Jackson, Alexus Parker and LaReahn Washington turned up the pressure and outscored Southern 31-9 over the final 14:56. During the run and for most of the first half, PVAMU found ways to get to the free throw line and took advantage of the opportunity as they finished 13-of-18 in the half en route to a 34-17 halftime lead.
Two baskets by Southern's Cortnei Purnell within the first three minutes cut the Lady Panthers' lead to 11 at 35-26 in the second half. Prairie View A&M wasted no time in reestablishing its dominance as Larissa Scott and Jeanette Jackson nailed consecutive jumpers. Southern's Kendra Coleman answered with a jumper of her own but the inside game of Shamiya Brooks and Larissa Scott went to work as Brooks scored four straight points followed by two free throws from Scott for a 21-point (48-27) lead.
With the game firmly in control, Prairie View A&M settled back into a comfortable groove and extended its lead to as much as 32 points with 5:30 remaining. The Lady Panthers received a huge opportunity to rest most of their starters the remainder of the way en route to claiming their first win over Southern since March 2, 2013.
Jackson, who needs only 18 points to become PVAMU's all-time single season scoring leader, led the way with 18 points. Parker, Larissa Scott and Gabrielle Scott and chipped in with 10 points apiece while Shamiya Brooks added eight points, two blocks and 11 rebounds.
Prairie View A&M will face SWAC rival TSU for the second consecutive year in postseason play as this year's edition is for a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is set for noon at the Toyota Center in Downtown Houston.
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