2009 SWAC TOURNAMENT BRACKET ANNOUNCED Duane Lewis 03/07/09 Defending regular champs Prairie View A&M women, Alabama State men earn top seeds BIRMINGHAM - The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2009 Basketball Tournament bracket Saturday night with defending regular season Women’s Champion Prairie View A&M and defending Men’s Champion Alabama State claiming the top seeds. The 2009 SWAC Basketball Tournament will be played March 11-14 at Birmingham’s Fair Park Arena. Prairie View A&M (20-10, 17-1 SWAC) earned its second consecutive 20-win season and the #1 seed in the tournament for the second straight year. The Lady Panthers have won 17 consecutive games heading into the SWAC Tournament and will face #8 seed Grambling State Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. On the men’s side, Alabama State (19-9 overall, 16-2 SWAC) will again be the top seed. The Hornets have had a seven-game winning streak and a nine-game winning streak this season en route to back-to-back regular season titles. Alabama State will take on archrival Alabama A&M Wednesday at 8 p.m. 2009 SWAC Tournament Pairings Wed. March 11 Noon Women #2 Southern vs. #7 Texas Southern Jaguars and Lady Tigers split a pair of meetings this year; SU won on Jan. 3 (71-42), but TSU won at home 59-56 on March 5. 2:30 p.m. Men #2 Jackson State vs. #7 Texas Southern Jackson State swept this matchup of Tigers, winning 76-63 at TSU on Jan. 17 and 72-63 at home on Feb. 14. 5:30 p.m. Women #1 Prairie View A&M vs. #8 Grambling State The Lady Panthers were dominant in sweeping the season series, winning by an average of 25.5 points. 8 p.m. Men #1 Alabama State vs. #8 Alabama A&M The Hornets swept their in-state rivals, winning on the road (69-57 on Jan. 17) and at home (87-43 on Feb. 14). Thur. March 12 Noon Women #3 Alabama State vs. #6 Mississippi Valley State The teams split their two regular season meetings with only two points separating the teams, including a three-OT game won by Alabama State on Feb. 9. 2:30 p.m. Men #3 Prairie View vs. #6 Mississippi Valley State The teams split their regular season meetings, each defending its home court (MVSU won 67-49 on Jan. 24; PV won 81-69 on Feb 21). 5:30 p.m. Women #4 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #5 Alabama A&M The teams split their regular season series with each defending its home court (UAPB 65-59 on Jan. 12; AAMU 49-46 on Feb. 9). 8 p.m. Men #4 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. #5 Southern The Jaguars earned the season sweep over UAPB, winning in OT at home (70-60 on Jan. 17) and on the road (70-66 on Feb. 14).