<p>BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cherelle Jones made two free throws with 13.9 seconds left and top-seeded Jackson State earned its first NCAA Tournament in 13 years with a 67-66 win over second seed Alabama State in the championship game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday.</p>
<p>Jones, who was 19 of 40 from the line this season, and 16 of 46 last season, came through after grabbing an offensive rebound. Moments earlier SWAC freshman of the year <a href="https://twitter.com/BamaStateWBB/status/1370854415436034054">Farrah Pearson hit a 3-pointer</a> from the left wing that put Alabama State on top 66-65 with 17.2 seconds left.</p>
<p>Ameshya Williams, the SWAC defensive player of the year, scored on a assist from Jones with 1:29 of go and Dayzsha Rogan, the SWAC player of the year, put the Tigers on top 65-63 with a pair of free throws at 33.1.</p>
<p>Those plays followed a 3-pointer from Ayana Emmanuel that capped an 11-0 Hornets run for a 63-61 lead.</p>
<p>Rogan led the Tigers (18-5) to their fifth NCAA Tournament with 25 points. Jones scored 13, going 7 of 9 from the foul line, and grabbed nine rebounds. Williams added 11 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. </p>
<p>Emmanuel led the Hornets (16-4) with 17 points and Tamirea Thomas added 11.</p>
<p>The teams split during the regular season, with the Tigers securing the No. 1 seed by winning on the last day. However, this game was a slugfest with the Hornets trailing 46-29 with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter.</p>
<p>The game had 52 turnovers (30 on the winners), 47 fouls (27 on the losers) and 58 free throws while both teams shot less than 39% from the field.</p>
<p>Jackson State has won eight SWAC championships, dating to the pre-Division I days, breaking a tie for the most with Grambling State.</p>
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<p>More AP women’s basketball: <a href="https://apnews.com/Womenscollegebasketball">https://apnews.com/Womenscollegebasketball</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Top25">https://twitter.com/AP_Top25</a></p>
