Ladyjacks Pound McNeese State
2/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team started slow but eventually cruised past McNeese State, 88-69, Thursday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are now 16-5 overall and 13-1 in the Southland Conference. The victory also increased the SFA win streak to a season-high eight games.
Despite the final score, the Ladyjacks struggled out of the gate. McNeese State took its first lead of the game on a Shanel Handy layup at the 13-minute, 54-second mark of the contest. The Cowgirls would hold that lead for the next seven minutes and 22 seconds and push it to as many as five. The Ladyjacks aided in the Cowgirls lead with 10 first-half turnovers. But freshman Andrea Everline (Sugarland, Texas) sparked an 11-2 SFA run with a three-pointer at the 6:31 mark to help the Ladyjacks regain control of the contest. Everline finished the game with 11 points and four steals. The Ladyjacks went into halftime with a slim 37-32 advantage.
In the second half, SFA turned to its post players to take control of the game and they didn't disappoint. Junior Amy Collins (San Antonio, Texas) netted a career-high 22 points and pulled down six rebounds as the Ladyjacks pushed its lead to double digits. Senior Chaquita Dilworth (Temple, Texas) added 21 points on 7-of-9 (.777 percent) shooting.
The Cowgirls' Kellie Burbridge help keep McNeese State in the game with her game-high 24 points and eight rebounds. But it wasn't enough as senior Nicole Guild (Flower Mound, Texas) added 12 points of 3-of-5 (.600) shooting from outside the three-point arc.
The Ladyjacks return to action Monday against Texas-Arlington. The game is slated to tipoff at 5:15 p.m., from Texas Hall in Arlington, Texas.
