The first five minutes belonged to TSU as they led 9-3 before a timeout by PVAMU at the 15:01 mark.  Following the timeout, PVAMU went to the paint as Larissa Scott and Asha Hampton-Finch hit back-to-back jumpers to close within 11-7.  Both teams continued to feel each other out from that point during a two-minute scoreless span until Jazzmin Parker's free throw with 9:50 left.

Freshman Alexus Parker picked up the pace with a much-needed three-pointer with 8:52 left in the half as PVAMU closed to within 12-10.  TSU turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Washington made them pay as her triple put PVAMU back on top 13-12.  The lead flipped flopped as TSU's Sarah Williams and Parker exchanged baskets but PVAMU kept on charging as they went on a 13-3 run over the next four minutes to lead 26-17.

However, the lead was brief as the emotions stemming from the heated rivalry went back to TSU as Brianna Sidney scored a layup followed by a PVAMU turnover which led to another TSU layup and five-point lead.  Another missed shot by PVAMU and a turnover led to five more points by TSU as they knotted the contest at 26-all with 1:43 remaining.

PVAMU finally broke its drought with two free throws by Jeanette Jackson for a 28-26 lead but Jazzmin Parker nailed a trey to send the momentum back to TSU with 30 seconds left.  With 13 seconds left, Washington displayed the senior leadership head coach Dawn Brown has asked for with a huge trey for a 31-29 advantage which stood as the halftime score.

TSU stuck first to open the second stanza but PVAMU answered as Jackson connected on two consecutive jumpers for a 35-31 lead.  But once again, the momentum moved back to TSU as they went on a 9-2 surge to lead 40-37 with 15:10 left.  TSU would lead over the next four minutes until a huge trey by Jackson and four consecutive points by Washington moved PVAMU on top 48-43 at the 10:03 mark.  A five-point swing tied the contest at 48-all two minutes later and with 5:38 remaining, the teams were tied again until the Jackson-Washington duo came through with successful drives to the basket for a 56-51 PVAMU lead with 4:37 left.

From that point, baskets were hard to come by for both teams but PVAMU stepped it up defensively over the next two minutes as TSU missed its next four shots.  A TSU technical foul after Larissa Scott's offensive rebound with 2:24 left swung the momentum back to PVAMU as Jackson and Scott combined to nail 3-of-4 free throws for a 59-53 advantage.  Sidney hit a basket to close within 59-55 and PVAMU had to hold on as they turned the ball over twice during the next 1:20.  The Panther nation in attendance could finally breathe a collective sigh of relief as TSU turned the ball over which led to two more free throws by Jackson and a 61-55 lead with 31 seconds left.  TSU scored once more but Jackson hit two more free throws down the stretch and closed the door as PVAMU will go dancing once again to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.

Jackson led the way with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Washington added 20 points and six rebounds.  Larissa Scott, who returned for PVAMU's tournament run, scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked two shots and dished out five assists.

Prairie View A&M advances to NCAA Tournament play for the fourth straight year and sixth time in eight years.  They'll know their opponent and location on Monday evening during the annual NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 6 p.m.  The Lady Panthers will host a watch party at a site to be determined.