2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 26
BY SENATORS FIELDS, ABRAHAM, BARROW, BERNARD, BOUDREAUX, BOUIE,
CARTER, CATHEY, CLOUD, CONNICK, CORTEZ, DUPLESSIS,
FESI, FOIL, HARRIS, HENRY, HENSGENS, HEWITT, JACKSON,
KLEINPETER, LAMBERT, LUNEAU, MCMATH, MILLIGAN, FRED
MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, PEACOCK, POPE, PRICE,
REESE, SMITH, TALBOT, WHITE AND WOMACK
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate the Southern University's (SU) Women's Basketball team,
called the "Lady Jaguars", on being crowned the 2023 Southwestern Athletic
Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball Team Champions and being eligible for
an appearance in the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Women's Basketball Tournament.
WHEREAS, the SU's Lady Jaguars won the 2023 SWAC tournament trophy after
beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the championship game on March 11, 2023, at the Bartow
Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, with a final score of 62-52; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Jaguars' SWAC victory earned them an automatic appearance
for their first NCAA tournament since 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Lady Jaguars' winning team consisted of one freshman: Sirviva
Legions; four sophomores: Aleighyah Fontenot, Xyllize Harrison, Tionna Lidge, and
Soniyah Reed; five juniors: Sky Castro, Osha Cummings, Diamond Hunter, Kyanna Morgan,
and Ra'von Robertson; and seven seniors: Chloe Fleming, Genovea Johnson, McKayla
Marshall, Amani McWain, Tyeniesha Metcalf, Raven White, and Taylor Williams; and
WHEREAS, Head Coach Carlos Funchess, entering his fifth season as leader of the
SU Women's Basketball program, has been instrumental in guiding the program to five
SWAC Regular Season Championships and three SWAC Tournament Titles; and
WHEREAS, in his first year as head coach of the Lady Jaguars, Coach Funchess lead
SU to the 2018-2019 SWAC Regular Season Championship, 2019 SWAC Tournament
Champions, and a 2019 NCAA Tournament appearance; and
WHEREAS, Carlos Funchess stated in his assessment of the game, "The young
ladies stepped up. They kept taking good shots, and I knew eventually some of them would
fall. We got hot at the right time."; and
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WHEREAS, the Lady Jaguars and Head Coach Carlos Funchess brought tremendous
pride to the Southern State University System, Southern University, the Baton Rouge
community, and the state of Louisiana by showcasing their extraordinary athletic abilities.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby congratulate the Southern University's Lady Jaguars on being crowned the 2023
Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Team Champions and being eligible
for an appearance in the 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball
Tournament and does hereby record for posterity this accomplishment, and extends best
wishes for continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Head Coach Carlos Funchess and Southern University President-Chancellor Dennis J.
Shields.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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