For Jackson State women’s basketball, mission accomplished. For 12 months it lived with the sting of being upset by Southern in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game.

On Saturday, No. 1-seeded Jackson State got redemption by jumping all over No. 6-seed Alcorn State, 68-44, in a romp at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.

“This is a really special team,” Jackson State coach Tomekia Reed said. “This team held each other accountable and did not accept other players being average. They understand that once everyone accepted their role it was easy to cheer for each other and love one another and become family. I am very proud of my team for the win.”

Jackson State (26-6) had a block party with SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Angel Jackson setting the tone with six, as the Tigers finished with 10.

JSU’s defense held the Lady Braves (12-20) to just 13-of-54 and 24.1% shooting and 3-of-15 from the 3-point line and being outrebounded 56-37.

The Lady Braves scored eight points in the first quarter and only four points in the second quarter and trailed 33-12 at halftime.

Reed said last season’s loss to Southern in the locker room was an unpleasant experience. Players were crying. It was tough to watch it as a coach and it hurt to experience it, said Reed.

“I told our players this year when they got tired,” Reed said. “I reminded them of that feeling against Southern and told them we have to bring the championship back home. We have to go hard and we cannot lose like that anymore.”

Reed said JSU had skilled players last season but not tough players. She made some changes to have tough players fit her system.

Jackson State had three players score in double figures led by Andriana Avent with 17 points. Ti’lan Boler scored 13 and Hayleigh Breland added 11.

JSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MAULS UAPB Jackson State women's basketball mauls Arkansas-Pine Bluff, to face Alcorn State in SWAC final

Charlie Creme of ESPN and his latest bracketology on Saturday had Jackson State as the No. 15 seed in the Portland 3 region playing in a rematch of the 2022 opening round game against No. 2 seed LSU in Baton Rouge.

"I am hoping the NCAA gives us an opportunity to showcase our talent," Reed said. "So, we are ready to go dancing. We are ready. We have been waiting for this moment and that is all our players have been talking about."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State women's basketball returns to March Madness, wins SWAC