MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Frazier, Simmons (12th), Hickman, Jackson (11th), Butler (36th), Horhn, Butler (38th), Thomas, Simmons (13th), Jordan, Blount, Barnett
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY "LADY TIGERS" BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH TOMEKIA REED FOR WINNING THE 2022 SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR SEASON TITLE AND FOR THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SWAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2022, the Jackson State University "Lady Tigers" Women's Basketball Team completed a dominant Southwestern Athletic Conference season with a wire-to-wire win 101-80 victory over #3 Alabama State in the Cricket SWAC Championship Game; and
WHEREAS, six players scored in double figures for Jackson State. Miya Crump scored a season-high 22 points, Dayzsha Rogan scored 17, Ameshya Williams-Holliday added 14 points. Keshuna Luckett, LaMiracle Sims, and Jariyah Covington each scored 11 points as the Lady Tigers concluded an impressive sweep of the Southwestern Athletic Conference; and
WHEREAS, including tournament play over the past two years, Jackson State (23-6 overall) has won 37 consecutive games against SWAC teams; and
WHEREAS, Jackson State becomes the first team since Alabama State in 2015 and 2016 to win back-to-back SWAC Tournament championships; and
WHEREAS, in the SWAC Championship, JSU picked up where it left off, scoring the games' first seven points, Williams-Holliday made her first three shots to set the tone. The Lady Tigers outscored Alabama State 28-14 after one quarter, while the defense was equally impressive. Alabama State made only six-of-16 shots and committed five turnovers in the first 10 minutes. The second quarter displayed the poise and depth of the JSU program. Williams-Holliday picked up her second foul with 6:17 to play until halftime. As Alabama State made run after run, the Lady Tigers answered each time. Leading by seven points late in the first half, Covington's three-pointer from the top of the key sparked the Lady Tigers in scoring seven of the final 10 points of the period. Covington's prior layup just before the buzzer gave JSU a 49-38 halftime lead; and
WHEREAS, on February 27, 2022, Jackson State claimed the 2022 SWAC Women's Basketball Regular Season Title; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2022, the LSU "Lady Tigers" survived a significant upset scare against a fierce JSU "Lady Tigers" squad coming out on top 83-77. Playing above a 14-seed ranking and coming back from a 17-point deficit in the second half to take a late lead, the JSU "Lady Tigers" gave LSU everything they had in the tank during their first-round NCAA Tournament match-up; and
WHEREAS, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams; and
WHEREAS, the 2021 - 2022 JSU Lady Tigers Women's Basketball Team Championship Roster is: Ti'lan Boler, Jariyah Covington, Miya Crump, Ja'Leah Hickmon, Areyanna Hunter, La'Genesis Johnson, Keshuna Luckett, Aaliyah Mosley, Kennedy Ransom, Alexis Roberts, Dayzsha Rogan, LaMiracle Sims, Daphane White, Ameshya Williams-Holliday and Daja Woodard; Head Coach Tomekia Reed, and Assistant Coaches Jonathan Williams, Lashonda Cousin and Chase Campbell; and
WHEREAS, JSU is one of the largest HBCUs in the United States and the fourth largest university in Mississippi. The average high school GPA of the admitted Freshman Class at Jackson State University was 2.93 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily "B" students are accepted and ultimately attend; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize these university athletes who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Jackson State University "Lady Tigers" Basketball Team and Head Coach Tomekia Reed for winning the 2022 SWAC Women's Basketball Regular Season Title and for their second consecutive SWAC Tournament Championship, and extend to the team, coaches, parents and sponsors our best wishes for success in the NCAA Tournament and future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Tomekia Reed and JSU President Thomas Hudson, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.