Alcorn wins SWAC title

Shreveport, LA - Before Sunday’s Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament championship game, Alcorn State left-hander Brent Blaum and Braves coach Barret Rey shared ties to Baton Rouge. Afterward, they shared the title of SWAC champions.

Blaum, a former LSU golfer, tossed 5 1-3 effective innings and the relentless Alcorn offense scored in double figures for the third straight tournament game as the Braves defeated Southern University, 12-6, at Fair Grounds Field to claim the tournament championship and an NCAA Regional berth.

“I never got a ring at LSU, so I finally have ...

CONTINUE

Braves Roll to First SWAC Title

Shreveport, La. - For the first time in school history, Alcorn State is celebrating a SWAC baseball championship. The Braves continued their offensive assault on the rest of the teams in the tournament with a 12-6 victory over Southern in Sunday’s championship final at Fair Grounds Field.

Tournament most valuable player, Alcorn designated hitter, Kilby Perdomo, hit his third home run in four games to give Alcorn a 1-0 lead before the Jaguars had even a chance at bat. Cameron McGriff tied the game in the bottom of the second with a solo shot of his own.

Alcorn State, however carded four run innings in the fourth and sixth, and then added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to keep the Jaguars at arm’s length all day.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern and Alcorn State advanced to Sunday’s SWAC championship

Championship Game TV Replay: Monday,
 8 PM EST on  ESPNU

SHREVEPORT, La. — Southern and Alcorn State advanced to Sunday’s SWAC championship game with impressive wins Friday. The Braves continued their roll through the tournament with a 13-0 victory over Texas Southern, while Southern came from five runs down to defeat Jackson State 14-9. The teams will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in the championship final.

Errors dash Tigers' hopes for SWAC repeat

There will be no repeat championship for the Grambling baseball team. The Tigers fell to Texas Southern 6-4 and were knocked out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament on the third day of play at Fair Grounds Field. Grambling led 3-0 after four innings but was outscored 6-1 in the final five innings, including a four-run seventh.

Southern rallies past JSU

Ugly doesn't begin to cover it, but the Southern Jaguars are not complaining. Southern overcame seven errors, wearing out a ragged Jackson State pitching staff to post a 14-9 victory Friday night at Fair Grounds Field to advance to Sunday's 1 p.m. tournament championship game.

There the Jaguars (29-20) will face former SU assistant Barret Rey and the Alcorn State Braves.
"The one thing that matters is the bottom line," Southern coach Roger Cador said.

Alcorn State bounces TSU from SWAC baseball tourney

Texas Southern bowed out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament with a whimper, suffering a 13-0 seven-inning, run-rule beating at the hands of Alcorn State on Friday afternoon at Fair Grounds Field. Alcorn State, seeded No. 1 in the Eastern Division, moves on to Sunday’s championship game, where it’ll face Southern University. TSU, the Western Division’s No. 4 seed, ended its season at 25-29.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Southern University: Living her dream

Sandy Pugh, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Interim Athletics Director, Southern University

As it turns out, Jessica Thomas ended up where she wanted to be all along.

The senior Northwest girls basketball standout inked a letter of intent to play basketball at Southern University next season Tuesday in the Northwest High library with her family and Lady Raiders coach Latosha Malone on hand.

"It's amazing to be where I am because of all the hard work I've put in and coach Malone helping me out a lot on everything I had to do to get to this point," Thomas said. "I had to do a lot of things, keep my grades maintained and stay focused in school and not worry about anything else."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: GOJAGSPORTS

Southern's Hall learned by example

Frazier Hall

Baton Rouge, LA - Hard work. It’s something every coach talks about, but something players more often learn by example.

Southern University senior first baseman Frazier Hall first began to grasp the concept of hard work watching his older brother Ben recover from brain tumor surgery a decade ago. Ben was 14 years old when a tumor was discovered in the left temporal lobe of his brain – the location that controls short-term memory.

The Hall family expected Ben to come out of brain surgery as a vegetable, sitting in wheelchair and eating from a tube for the rest of his life, not able to pursue his boyhood dreams of playing football.

“The family wouldn’t accept that so we countered that with absolute prayer and belief,” Hall said.  Miraculously, Ben was not only...

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: GOJAGSPORTS

Southern Jaguars Splits, Wins Western Division Championship

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — After losing the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Southern baseball team turned to junior right-hander Brian Foster with a chance to win the series. Foster, who won his first start of the season at Jackson State eight days earlier, responded.

Foster got Southern through seven innings in Saturday’s second game, then made way for closer Cody Hall in a 9-2 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to take the three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference series. The win, combined with a pair of Grambling losses at Prairie View, gave Southern the Western Division championship.

Foster, who improved to 2-0 since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation, helped the Jaguars get back on track after a 10-6 loss to the Golden Lions in Saturday’s first game.

Box Score: UAPB 10, Southern 6

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS
VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF
VISIT: UAPBLIONSROAR

Early outburst leads SU by UAPB, 15-10

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Southern baseball team didn’t get a sparkling effort from its pitching staff Friday. But the Jaguars got enough of what they needed — from reliever Daniel Garcia, from its solid defense and from its suddenly potent offense.

In the opener of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division series, Southern erupted for 14 runs in the first four innings and held off Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a 15-10 victory. It was the first time the Jaguars scored 15 or more runs since March 12, when they opened a three-game road series at Prairie View with a 17-5 win.

It was also Southern’s first game with 10 or more runs since March 27, when the team defeated UAPB 10-7 to complete a three-game sweep in Baton Rouge. Frazier Hall, Wilmy Marrero and B.J. Rowry, the Nos. 3-5 hitters, combined to go 8-for-15 with seven RBIs.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS
VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF
VISIT: UAPBLIONSROAR

Southern U’s Banks talks with players for first time

Baton Rouge, LA - His day was a virtual parade of handshakes, paperwork and face-to-face meetings with officials at Southern University — but as the sun crept closer to the Mississippi River, Roman Banks had one more important matter to handle Thursday.

It was, he said, the most enjoyable part of his first full day on campus as the new men’s basketball coach. It was, arguably, the most important part of the day. At about 5:30 p.m., he met with his new players. Together, he said, they had to restore pride to a hurting program.

“I remember when Southern, I thought, was one of the best programs in the state,” Banks said later. “I always dreamed of coaching and hopefully having a chance to bring that pride, that enthusiasm back to the (F.G. Clark) Activity Center. ... It always made Southern very appealing to me.”

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS

Southern University names Banks new head basketball coach

Coach Roman Banks

The Southern University Department of Athletics is proud to announce Roman Banks as its new head men's basketball coach. He will officially take over the men's program on May 1, 2011.

His appointment is conditional, pending confirmation by the Southern University Board of Supervisors at its upcoming meeting on April 29, 2011.

Roman Banks replaces Rob Spivery, who coached the Jaguars from 2005 through this past season.

Banks has served as Southeastern Louisiana University's men's associate head basketball coach the past five years, and spent eight years total on the coaching staff.

Banks comes to Southern with a keen knowledge of the Baton Rouge community and surrounding Ark-La-Tex regions, along with his knowledge of recruiting and game preparation. He was worked extensively on athletic projects, including fundraisers with the community and has coached and lectured at numerous basketball camps throughout the state. He also brings a true knowledge and conception of the game of basketball and what the game brings to the community -- socially as well as economically. He also brings a strong work ethic.

During his tenure in Hammond, Banks was part of a program that produced seven winning seasons (the most of any Division I school in the state of Louisiana) and 140 total wins (second to LSU's 144 wins from 2003-11). He played a vital role in the Lions' defensive effort in 2004-05 as Southeastern finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (55.8 ppg) and produced the school's first Southland Conference Tournament championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Banks played a key role in the recruitment of several of the Lions' standout players, highlighted by 2005-06 SLC Player of the Year Ricky Woods, along with All-Conference selections Daryl Cohen, Kevyn Green and Terry Bryant.

Regarded as one of the top recruiters in Louisiana, Banks spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Southern University where he served as the Jaguars' chief recruiter. While at Southern, he was responsible for the recruitment of two-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year Adarrial Smylie and Dionte Harvey, the 1997-98 SWAC Newcomer of the Year.

Banks played basketball at Northwestern State and was the Demons' point guard in their upset win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in assists while ranking second in steals and seventh in scoring. He led the Demons in four categories as a senior in 1991-92, including a 16.2 scoring average, was named honorable mention All-Southland Conference and was a third-team All-Louisiana selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Banks was named to the All-Southland Conference second team in 1989-90 after averaging 14.7 points and dishing out a career-high 157 assists. He helped the Demons to their first winning season in five years and helped the team establish 23 school records while leading the nation in team scoring, averaging 95.0 points per game.

Banks started his coaching career at Shreveport's Green Oaks High School before spending two years at Southern University-Shreveport, where he was the Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach.

A native of Shreveport, Banks was a three-time All-District 2-4A selection at Captain Shreve High School where he averaged 22.7 points and 7.6 assists as a senior in helping lead the Gators to a 28-7 record.

Banks, a member of the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, is married to the former Tiffaney McCoy, a school teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. They are the parents of two children, a son Tre'lun (15) and a daughter Kennedi (9).

Banks gets Southern men's basketball job

Thursday morning, Roman Banks pulled out of his driveway in Hammond and headed west toward Southern University, where he agreed to become the new men's basketball coach. Along the way, his car might have been on Interstate 12. But at some point, Banks' head started to wander down Memory Lane.

Banks, who has two family members in the SU Hall of Fame, started to think of his days as an assistant there from 1996-2002. There was the time the Jaguars got thumped at Alabama A&M. "They came to us a couple weeks later," he said. "Our guys just put on a clinic. One of our better wins in school history. It was special to me." There was the time in late 1998, when Texas A&M came into the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

By Southern University and A&M College
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
VISIT: SUSPORTS

Former Southern University athletic director files suit

Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract. LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him “before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause’’ for his termination.

Administrator arrested in Houston sues school over firing

BATON ROUGE, La. — Former Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur, who was fired three days after his April 3 arrest on a misdemeanor prostitution count in Houston, is suing the school for breach of contract. LaFleur contends in a lawsuit that Southern fired him “before giving him written notice and an opportunity to refute the alleged cause” for his termination.

“The cause alleged by Southern does not constitute just cause, good cause, reasonable cause, or other cause,” the suit, filed against the Southern University Board of Supervisors, alleges.

LaFleur, 52, is seeking damages, including his base salary for the remainder of his contract, which he says was to expire June 30, 2013.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Southern University, Spivery agree to settlement

Baton Rouge, LA - The Southern University Board of Supervisors’ Athletics Committee met with men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery and his attorney for more than an hour in an executive session Tuesday, after which both sides said they have reached an agreement in principle regarding Spivery’s termination.

Spivery was first informed March 18 of the university’s decision to terminate his employment effective Thursday.

A statement released by the university April 1 said Spivery was entitled to a hearing before the Athletics Committee.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern Jaguars, Southeastern Louisiana get rematch

You might recall that two weeks ago, on a strange night at Lee-Hines Field, Southern and Southeastern Louisiana met in a midweek college baseball game that had a little bit of everything.
Except a happy ending.

SLU’s Trey Martin stole home in the third inning. SU pitcher Belfred “T.J.” Pryer had what might have been his best outing of the season, holding the Lions to one run in seven innings. The Jaguars had a one-run lead in the eighth-inning, and SLU had a rally in the works. Then lightning delayed the game. Actually, as it turned out, lightning finished the game.

When umpires Anthony DeRousselle and Ryan Broussard told both teams to return, SU coach Roger Cador chose instead to forfeit, citing his players’ safety.

Lions To Host In-State Rival Southern In Midweek Contest

HAMMOND, LA – The Southeastern Louisiana University baseball team returns to action on Tuesday when it plays host to in-state rival Southern University at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the internet at www.LionSports.net.

Southeastern (22-11) has won seven of its last nine games that began with a 9-0 win by forfeit over Southern (19-11) on March 29. The Lions took two of three games in Southland Conference play last weekend at UT Arlington and will face league leader Texas State in a three-game series beginning Friday in San Marcos, Texas.

Junior Justin Boudreaux leads Southeastern at the plate with a .373 average with six home runs and 30 RBI. Brock Hebert (.367-1-20), Jonathan Pace (.357-1-22) and Jeff Harkensee (.331-7-39) are next in hitting for the Lions, who are averaging .293 at the plate with 19 home runs and 212 runs scored.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS

Keys: Southern University Pugh takes on a tough assignment

Southern Interim Athletic Director Sandy Pugh

Baton Rouge, LA - Monday afternoon, less than a week into her new role as the interim athletic director at Southern University, Sandy Pugh was all smiles. Above her head, sunlight poked through a field of fast-moving clouds. All around her, trees swayed in a strong breeze. What a day it was.

“I want people to believe some fantastic things are getting ready to happen,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day here at Southern.”

Lately, fewer and fewer people are able to share Pugh’s sunny disposition. Who could blame them? After all, this has been the wildest, most disturbing year in the history of Southern athletics. The football team posted its worst record ever, going 2-9. The men’s basketball team posted its worst record ever for the third straight year, going 4-26, and coach Rob Spivery was fired.

Southern University seeks to fill the athletic director position quickly

Baton Rouge, LA — To borrow a phrase from the sports teams it presides over, Southern’s athletic department has lost some big names, and the work of replacing them must now begin.

Southern Athletic Director Greg LaFleur was let go from his post last week after being arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was in Houston scouting potential hires for the men’s basketball team after the firing of former coach Rob Spivery following a 4-26 season.

“Given the circumstances, I think it would be difficult for the university to move forward with Mr. LaFleur as the head of the athletic program,” Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey said in a release last week.

The decision leaves Southern with two big positions to fill.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE
VISIT: SUJAGUARS

Southern U blasts three home runs in win

UPDATED ALERT, 10:15 a.m: Southern cancels news conference set to address athletic director LaFleur


Three days after Greg LaFleur was arrested on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston, Southern University called a news confernece “to address” its athletic director’s situation but canceled it Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the athletic department.

A statement will be released by the university on LaFleur, accoridng to the release.

SU blasts three home runs in win

NEW IBERIA, LA — Perhaps the Southern University baseball team should find a way to face Nicholls State on a neutral site every year. Tuesday night at Acadian Ballpark, the Jaguars got a solid effort from starting pitcher Belfred “T.J.” Pryer and rallied for four late-inning runs en route to a 6-4 victory.

“We took care of business tonight,” SU coach Roger Cador said.

It was Southern’s second win in as many seasons over the Colonels in a ballpark that didn’t serve as either team’s primary home. Last spring, the Jaguars dropped Nicholls 8-5 at Southland Field in Houma. Nicholls was the designated home team in both games.

Boxscore: SU 6, Nicholls State 4

Attorney: APR cited in firing of Spivery

Southern University believes it does not have to pay the remainder of Rob Spivery’s contract because the coach oversaw a men’s basketball program that had a low Academic Progress Rate, Spivery’s attorney said Tuesday afternoon.

The attorney, Donald Dobbins, said he doesn’t believe low APR scores constitute a breach of contract. Dobbins contended that maintaining and improving APR is the responsibility of an athletic department, not a coach.

News conference set to address LaFleur

Three days after Greg LaFleur was arrested on a misdemeanor prostitution count in downtown Houston, Southern University will hold a news conference on campus “to address” its athletic director’s situation, according to a release late Tuesday from the athletic department.

The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, the release said.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Southern University AD Greg LaFleur arrested, Southern releases statement

HOUSTON, TX  - Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur has been arrested in Houston for prostitution. According to the police report, Greg LaFleur, 52, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Houston for solicitation of a prostitute.

The prosecutor's office in Harris County characterizes the case as "straight sex for pay," because the police report says LaFleur picked up a female for sex. According to the police report, the female he picked up happened to be an undercover police officer.

The former LSU and NFL football player was booked on a misdemeanor charge by Houston Police, with bond set at $500 according to court records.



Ex-NFL player and Southern A.D. arrested for solicitation

It’s been a wacky couple of days for NFL arrests, with Mike Vrabel’s beer heist almost topping Louis Murphy’s Viagra adventure for sheer ridiculousness. Now even ex-NFL players want to get in on the act.

The Associated Press notes that Southern University Athletic Director Greg LaFleur is free on bond after being arrested for soliciting a prostitute. LaFleur was a third-round pick of the Eagles who played for the Rams for six seasons.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Spivery out at Southern University

 Spivery leaves the Jaguars with a 37-87 career record, an
 NCAA APR score of  847 and a two scholarships loss.

Southern University has decided to fire men’s basketball coach Rob Spivery — though that’s hardly news to him. The university released a brief statement late Friday afternoon that said Spivery will be terminated effective April 21.

The statement also revealed for the first time that the university informed Spivery of its decision on March 18, eight days after a face-to-face meeting between Spivery and SU Athletic Director Greg LaFleur to discuss the direction of the program. The news release, in its entirety, reads:

“Rob Spivery’s tenure as head basketball coach at Southern University and A&M College will end April 21.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Southern gets back-to-back wins over UAPB Golden Lions

Baton Rouge, La. - The Southern Jaguars baseball team improved to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in the SWAC after taking a doubleheader from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, beating the Golden Lions 6-5 and 11-1. The Jaguars came back from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Golden Lions 6-5 in game one. Wilmy Marrero drove in Taylor Roy for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Frazier Hall knocked out his fifth home run of the season when he drilled a two-run shot off the scoreboard in the fifth inning. The Jaguars won game two with ease, beating the Golden Lions 11-1 behind three hits and three RBI by Marrero. Jaguars pitcher Jesse Holiday picked up the win going 4 2/3 innings, striking out five batters, while allowing only one run on one hit.



SU sweeps Pine Bluff

As it turned out, a day like this was just what Wilmy Marrero needed. Marrero, who spent much of this season starting at third base and batting cleanup for the Southern baseball team, woke up Saturday morning, had a little breakfast, then took a seat in the dugout as the Jaguars began their doubleheader sweep of Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Lee-Hines Field.

Marrero, a junior from Houston, had been 2-for-12 in his last four games. But by the end of Saturday’s first game — in which SU rallied for two ninth-inning runs and a 6-5 win — Marrero found himself back on the field, shortly after SU coach Roger Cador made a double switch.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Hall on roll for Southern University

Baton Rouge, La. - Frazier Hall knew he’d been swinging a pretty strong bat lately, but he didn’t know exactly how strong. Frankly, the Southern first baseman liked it that way. Wednesday night, however, his dad ruined the blissful ignorance for him, shortly before a game at McNeese State.

“He comes up and he’s like, ‘You know you’ve got a hitting streak going, right?’ ” Hall recalled. At the time, it was at nine games. “I was like, ‘Yeah. Thanks, Dad. ... If I go 0-for, it’s your fault,’ ” Hall said.

The good news was that there was no jinx. Hall went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. His hitting streak stands at 10 games as Southern (11-7, 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) prepares to face Arkansas-Pine Bluff (6-10, 3-3) in a three-game series that begins with a doubleheader at noon today at Lee-Hines Field.

McNeese holds off SU, 10-8

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese State scored early and held off a late Southern University rally to claim a 10-8 nonconference baseball victory Wednesday night. The Cowboys (13-9) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and led 10-3 lead after five innings.

Southern (11-8) rebounded with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh before McNeese held the Jaguars scoreless over the last two innings. SU left the bases load twice, according to coach Roger Cador, who was not totally disappointed with the effort of his team even though a four-game winning streak came to an end.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

Different looks highlight final scrimmage for Southern

Baton Rouge, LA - This was a good way for Casey Narcisse to announce his grand return. Friday night, long after sunlight had disappeared from A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Southern football team had one more play left in its final spring scrimmage.

Narcisse, a short-but-large defensive tackle who takes pride in playing with passion, suffered a torn knee ligament last October in a loss to Prairie View — one of many losses in Stump Mitchell’s first season as the Jaguars coach.

Back in action after surgery and rehab, Narcisse found himself in the flat, near the sideline, where a pass from quarterback Dray Joseph was zeroing in on tailback Dallas Fort. All at once, the ball, Fort and Narcisse met.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

Scrimmage to wrap up Southern U. spring

The Southern University football team will wrap up spring practice with its final scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, and make no mistake:

The Jaguars have plenty of questions to answer if they plan on improving.

They’re coming off a 2-9 record in their first year under Stump Mitchell, finishing last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division.

They came into the spring with two new assistants — offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gerald Carr and defensive line coach Tayrone Odums.

SU set for final scrimmage of spring

The Southern football team will wrap up spring practice with its final scrimmage at 6 p.m. Friday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The Jaguars, coming off a 2-9 record in their first season under Stump Mitchell, started spring practice Feb. 21 with two new assistants: offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Gerald Carr and defensive line coach Tayrone Odums.

Southern has also practiced without several veterans, including quarterback Jeremiah McGinty, who’s nursing an injury to his left (nonthrowing) shoulder.

SU opens its schedule next season Sept. 3 in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State.

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.


Videographer: AaronMychael; 2011 NFL Draft Prospect Jordan Miller - DT - Southern U. Pro Day

Tulane women's basketball team routs Southern 61-31 in WNIT

No point for Tulane to sit back and let its WNIT opener against Southern become competitive. The Green Wave swarmed the Jaguars with a full-court press from the onset.

Any lethargic Tulane tendencies the Green Wave might be expected to have after not earning an NCAA Tournament bid never appeared.

Tulane’s pesky defense helped it cruise to a 61-31 win over Southern on Thursday night at Fogelman Arena. The Green Wave will take on Oral Roberts, who defeated TCU, in Tulsa, Okla. either on Saturday or Sunday at 4 p.m.

Missing the women’s NCAA tournament is still a sore spot for tguard Olivia Grayson, who scored a team-high 12 points and still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Tulane Women's Hoops Rolls Past Southern In WNIT Opener, 61-31

NEW ORLEANS - Sophomore Olivia Grayson had 12 points and the Green Wave defense forced 22 turnovers as the Tulane University women's basketball team defeated Southern, 61-31, in the opening round of the 2011 WNIT Thursday evening in Fogelman Arena.

The Wave used its press to tally 12 steals - the 15th double-digit steal outing of the year and the most by the team since having 16 thefts at SMU on Feb. 3 - while limiting the Lady Jaguars to a 16.9 field goal percentage (12-of-71). With the win, Tulane improves to 23-10 on the year and advances to take on Oral Roberts in the second round of the WNIT on Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla. Southern, meanwhile, concludes its 2010-11 season at 20-12.

Tulane routs SU in WNIT

NEW ORLEANS – Southern’s stay in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament was over almost before it began as an epidemic of missed shots and turnovers doomed the Jaguars in the first half of a 61-31 loss to Tulane in the first round Thursday night at Fogelman Arena.

Both teams were sloppy offensively at the outset, but the Green Wave (23-10) gradually got a handle on things. Southern (20-12) never did as it finished with its lowest point total of the season, falling short of an 85-36 loss at Miami on Nov. 29. The Jaguars made just 12-of-71 shots (16.9 percent), including 3-for-35 (8.6 percent) in the first half, and committed 22 turnovers.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.