Shanice Merritt’s layup with 1:18 to play gave #7 seed Alabama State a 50-48 win over #2 seed Alabama State in the opening game of the 2010 Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.
Alabama State (12-16) advances to Friday’s semifinal where it will play the winner of Alabama A&M-Alcorn State. Prairie View A&M (15-13), was the defending tournament champion.
Alabama State trailed by one at halftime but a Merritt layup gave the Lady Hornets a 24-23 lead and although the game was tied twice in the second half. Merritt led all players with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Tandria Milton was the only other Alabama State in double figures with 12.
Prairie View A&M went for the win in the final seconds, but Dominique Smith miss a three-pointer with five seconds to play. Smith and Robin Jones led the Lady Panthers with 13 points each. Ciara Banks added 11 points off the bench
