Tanika Jackson and Shanice Merritt each scored 15 points as #7 seed Alabama State defeated #3 seed Alabama A&M 61-53 in a women’s semifinal of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.
Alabama State (13-16) advances to Saturday’s championship game vs. the Southern-Texas Southern winner. Alabama State is the lowest seed to make the women’s final since #8 seed Mississippi Valley in 2004.
Alabama A&M’s season ends at 16-13.
The game featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes with neither team leading by double figures. A pair of free throws by Jackson with 5:56 to play gave Alabama State the lead for good at 48-47. The free throws were part of a 15-6 run to end the game and put Alabama State in the tournament championship game for the first time since 2006.
Katrich Williams scored a game-high 24 points to lead Alabama A&M.
