BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — A pivotal Southwestern Athletic Conference women’s basketball clash is set for Saturday at Clark Activity Center as the Southern Lady Jaguars host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs.

Both teams enter the 4 p.m. CST tipoff with nearly identical records and surging conference momentum. Alabama A&M (12-9 overall) has won seven straight games, last falling in overtime on New Year’s Day. Southern (11-9) has won five of its last seven, with its only recent conference losses coming on the road.

The Bulldogs are powered by guard Kaila Walker, who has been a model of consistency during the win streak. She has scored 15 or more points in six of the last seven contests, including a 19-point, 5-rebound performance in last Saturday’s 63-50 win over Florida A&M. Forward Maori Davenport adds an interior presence, coming off an 8-point, 9-rebound, 4-block game against the Rattlers.

Southern looks to bounce back from a 69-56 road loss at Alcorn State. In that game, forward Jocelyn Tate recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Tate has been a key contributor for the Lady Jaguars, posting a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 24.

Defense has been a hallmark of Alabama A&M’s streak, holding opponents to 50 points or fewer in three of the last five games. Southern’s defense has also been stout at home, allowing an average of just 54.5 points in its last four conference games in Baton Rouge.

The matchup is the first of a home-and-home series that will conclude the regular season on Thursday, March 5, in Huntsville, Alabama. With the SWAC tournament looming, Saturday’s contest carries significant weight for seeding. The Bulldogs currently hold a half-game edge in the conference standings over the Lady Jaguars, making this a direct battle for positioning.

Southern will aim to protect its home court and snap Alabama A&M’s lengthy win streak, while the visiting Bulldogs seek to continue their dominant run through the SWAC schedule.