Pensacola, Fla. – 12-seeded South Alabama and 14-seeded Louisiana won their opening round matchups on Tuesday to advance to the second round of the 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve.
South Alabama took down 13-seed App State, 68-57, while Louisiana defeated 11-seed Georgia State 71-66.
Game 1: (12) South Alabama 68, (13) App State 57 [Box Score]
Cordasia Harris recorded a 15-point, 15 rebound double-double, leading South Alabama (13-17, 5-13) to its first conference tournament victory since 2020.
The Jags defeated App State (11-19, 4-14) 68-57 in a back-and-forth battle that stretched all four quarters.
The opening quarter was competitive with the lead stretching no further than three points for either team. By the end of the first the Jags led 12–10, before South Alabama would hit 5 threes in the second quarter to have a 36–31advantage heading into halftime.
App State made a run in the third quarter edging closer to the Jags, leaving South Alabama with the need to respond in the fourth.
The Jaguars would limit App State’s opportunities down the stretch, leading for 9:31 of the fourth quarter and going on a 13-1 run in the final seven minutes to secure the double digit victory.
South Alabama held advantages in points in the paint (10–2), second-chance points (4–2), and bench scoring (11–4).
South Alabama will face No. 9 Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. CT.
Game 2: (11) Georgia State 66, (14) Louisiana 71 [Box Score]
No. 14 Louisiana (5-25, 2-16) pulled off the first upset of the tournament thanks to a career high 32-point performance from Mikaylah Manley.
The Ragin’ Cajuns defeated No. 11 Georgia State (10-21, 5-13) 71-66, turning the tides late in the fourth quarter to earn the victory.
The Panthers led 20-9 at the end of the first quarter, shooting 43.8 percent from the field compared to Louisiana’s 21.4. Louisiana would push back, outscoring Georgia State 19-14 in the second and bringing the deficit to just six, 34-28.
The Ragin’ Cajuns carried that energy out of the locker room in the third quarter, again outscoring the Panthers to bring themselves within one, 47-48.
In the fourth, the score was knotted up three times before Louisiana would go on a seven-point run, pulling away from Georgia State. 14 of the Louisiana's 25 fourth quarter points would come from the hot hand of Manley, leading the team to a five point victory.
Louisiana will face No. 10 ULM tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.
For more information,
click here to visit the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Championship page.
2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship Presented by Air Force Reserve
Tuesday, March 3
Game 1 – (12) South Alabama 68, (13) App State 57
Game 2 – (11) Georgia State 66, (14) Louisiana 71
Wednesday, March 4
Game 3 – (9) Coastal Carolina vs. Winner Game 1 – 11:30 a.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 4 – (10) ULM vs. Winner Game 2 – 2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Thursday, March 5
Game 5 – (8) Texas State vs. Winner Game 3 – 11:30 a.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 6 – (7) Southern Miss vs. Winner Game 4 – 2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Friday, March 6
Game 7 – (5) Marshall vs. Winner Game 5 – 11:30 a.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 8 – (6) Old Dominion vs. Winner Game 6 – 2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Saturday, March 7 (Quarterfinals)
Game 9 – (4) James Madison vs. Winner Game 7 – 12:00 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 10 – (3) Arkansas State vs. Winner Game 8 – 2:30 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Sunday, March 8 (Semifinals)
Game 11 – (1) Georgia Southern vs. Winner Game 9 – 11:30 a.m. CT [ESPN+]
Game 12 – (2) Troy vs. Winner Game 10 – 2 p.m. CT [ESPN+]
Monday, March 9 (Championship)
Game 13 – Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12 – 1 p.m. CT [ESPNU]