Alabama State turned to Jada Simpson when it mattered most, and the sophomore guard delivered, lifting the Hornets to a 65–63 win over Southern in a SWAC showdown in Montgomery on Tuesday night.
Simpson’s driving basket through contact in the final seconds capped a back-and-forth fourth quarter that featured four ties in the last five minutes and kept Alabama State firmly in the hunt near the top of the conference standings.
After Southern pulled even at 63-all on a pair of free throws with 24 seconds remaining, Alabama State cleared out the floor and put the ball in Simpson’s hands for the final possession.
She attacked off the dribble, absorbed a foul, and finished at the rim to put the Hornets ahead for good. Southern still had a chance to force overtime or win it, but the Jaguars’ contested jumper at the buzzer was off target, sealing the two-point victory for Alabama State.
Simpson finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting night, one of three Hornets to score in double figures. A game-high 18 points led Alabama State from leading scorer Ajae Thompson, who added six rebounds and two steals, while forward Taylor Green chipped in 12 points and five boards to anchor the frontcourt. As a team, the Hornets shot 43.1 percent (25-of-58) from the field and used balanced scoring to keep pressure on Southern’s defense.
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On the other side, Southern rode a standout performance from guard Brianna Johnson, who poured in 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including three 3-pointers, to keep the Jaguars close throughout.
Forward Mya Williams added 11 points and seven rebounds, helping Southern stay within striking distance despite never fully taking control. The Jaguars finished 22-of-56 from the floor and 8-of-20 from beyond the arc, relying heavily on perimeter shooting to answer Alabama State’s work inside.
Alabama State controlled the glass with a 36–32 rebounding advantage and held a 32–28 edge in points in the paint, key margins in a game that came down to the final shot.
The Hornets also made their trips to the line count, going 12-of-15 on free throws, including two critical makes in the final two minutes that set up Simpson’s game-winner.
The win improves Alabama State to 13–5 in SWAC play, moving the Hornets into third in the conference standings heading into Thursday’s regular-season finale against Grambling State.
