By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS Staff Reports
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has issued fines and player suspensions following an altercation during Thursday’s women’s basketball matchup between Mississippi Valley State University and Alabama State University in Montgomery.
In a statement released by the league, the SWAC said its review determined that both programs violated the conference’s code of ethics and conduct through acts of unsportsmanlike behavior.
As a result, four players were disciplined for their roles in the incident. Two Mississippi Valley State players and one Alabama State player received one-game suspensions, while a second Alabama State player was suspended for two games. The conference did not publicly identify the athletes involved or provide details regarding their specific actions.
“The Southwestern Athletic Conference upholds an extremely high standard of good sportsmanship and does not condone unsportsmanlike behavior of any kind,” the league said. “We will continue to work diligently to provide our member institutions with the necessary guidance and resources to support good sportsmanship and healthy competition at all times.”
In addition to the suspensions, the SWAC levied $25,000 fines against both Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State, citing league bylaws and sports regulations.
Conference officials noted that the penalties mirror recent disciplinary actions in other altercation cases, in which the SWAC has paired player suspensions with institutional fines of the same amount.
Alabama State Athletics also issued a response, emphasizing that the conduct displayed during the contest fell short of the university’s standards.
“Alabama State Athletics does not condone the actions that took place during tonight’s contest against Mississippi Valley State University,” the department said in a statement attributed to athletic director Jason Cable. “Sportsmanship, discipline, and respect for the game are core values of our department and our institution.”
The SWAC has not announced whether additional disciplinary measures will follow.
