Southern Women’s Basketball Aims for No. 2 Seed Amid Tough Road Challenges

Southern University’s women’s basketball team is rolling into the final week of the regular season with real momentum. They’ve got a mathematical shot at the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Tournament, which honestly feels within reach right now.

The Jaguars have strung together five straight wins and sit at 12-4 in conference play. They’re third in the SWAC standings, just a game and a half behind Alcorn State.

That gap makes these last road games absolutely critical for their postseason hopes. So, what’s been working for them lately?

Southern’s Recent Performances

Southern has looked sharp down the stretch, mixing balanced scoring with some tough rebounding. In their recent 80-61 win over Florida A&M, they really flexed their muscle inside and on the glass.

The team shot 28-of-65 from the floor and pulled down 46 rebounds—22 of them on offense. Olivia Delancy came off the bench to lead with 20 points, going 7-of-15 overall and 3-of-4 from deep.

Zaria Hurston chipped in 14 points, and Jestiny Dixon added 10 points plus eight rebounds. After that, Southern just overwhelmed Bethune-Cookman, winning 73-47.

Jaylia Reed paced the team with 14 points, hitting four threes. The squad knocked down eight total threes and racked up 16 steals.

Defense was relentless, forcing 19 turnovers and holding Bethune-Cookman below 50 points. They shot 25-of-57 as a group and spread the production around nicely.

Key Players

Southern’s depth keeps showing up, with a bunch of players stepping into big roles. It’s not just one star carrying the load.

• Olivia Delancy: Dropped 20 off the bench in the Florida A&M game.
• Zaria Hurston: A steady presence with 8.1 points and 5.5 boards per night.
• Jaylia Reed: Dangerous from the arc—she’s hit 52 threes this season.
• Jocelyn Tate: Team leader in rebounds (152) and brings a ton of energy on defense.
• Mykayla Cunningham: Runs the offense with 87 assists and calm ball handling.

Upcoming Challenges

To keep the No. 2 seed dream alive, Southern has to win both of their last regular-season games—both on the road. They play Alabama State on March 3 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery, Ala.

Then, it’s Alabama A&M on March 5 at the AAMU Events Center in Huntsville, Ala. Both games are on SWAC TV, so fans can catch the action.

Alabama State

Alabama State sits at 11-5 in the SWAC, just behind Southern. This matchup’s huge for both teams, with tournament seeding on the line.

Southern will need that same balanced scoring and strong rebounding to handle the Hornets.

Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M has already locked up the regular-season crown with a 15-1 record and a wild 15-game winning streak. Facing them is no joke—A&M has been rolling all year.

Still, if Southern keeps playing like they have, they’ve got a puncher’s chance. Depth matters in games like this.

Path to the No. 2 Seed

Alcorn State holds the No. 2 spot at 13-3 and finishes the season at home against Mississippi Valley State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They’re expected to win both.

For Southern to leapfrog them, they pretty much have to win out and hope for some help elsewhere. Not impossible, but not entirely in their control either.

Importance of the No. 2 Seed

Alabama A&M might have the regular-season title locked up, but seeding still matters. Getting that No. 2 spot means a more favorable bracket and maybe avoiding some tough teams until later.

If Southern can pull it off, it would be a big deal—sets them up for a deeper tournament run, at least in theory.