BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) &045; Rasaan Powell scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Saturday night to lift Alcorn State to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship with a 56-47 victory over Southern University.

The Lady Braves earned their first conference title since 2001 and their first trip to the NCAA tournament since making back-to-back appearances in 2000-01.

”There is nothing like taking your team to the big dance,” Alcorn State coach Shirley Walker said. ”I was worried about our rest, but we came out with intensity and were able to keep that up throughout.”

The Lady Braves (21-8) never trailed in the contest.

Rolanda Monroe of Southern (15-15) scored 32 points and earned tournament MVP honors. She tied her career high, and finished with a 28.6 scoring average for the tournament.

”It’s hard for me to receive this trophy, because it means nothing without the championship,” Monroe said.

Only three other players scored for the Jaguars, with Ashley Blake adding 11 points.

”When you play a basketball game and only four players score, you’re in trouble,” said Southern coach Sandra Pugh. ”We didn’t play well as a team. It was like we kind of sat back and tried to let Rolanda do it all.”

In the first half, Monroe scored 15 of Southern’s 18 points, and grabbed four rebounds and three steals.

Alcorn State took an early 10-0 lead by holding the Jaguars scoreless through the first 5 minutes. A 10-1 run by the Lady Braves extended that lead to 16 points late in the first half.

”The first 10 minutes of the game gave us a lot of confidence,” Alcorn State’s LaToya Johnson said.