It's Basketball Time
11/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2003
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team opens the 2003-04 season Friday against No. 12 (ESPN/USA Today poll) Louisiana Tech. The Ladyjacks will return to the court Monday to face Colorado State. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
SFA vs. the Lady Techsters: The Ladyjacks are 5-23 (.179) all-time against Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, including a 80-44 decision last season. The game against Louisiana Tech last year was the first meeting between the two teams since the 1997-98 season.
SFA vs. the Rams: The Ladyjacks are 1-1 (.500) all-time against Colorado State. SFA defeated the Rams, 71-48, during the 1986-87 season, while Colorado State earned an 85-62 decision last season.
Tradition of Winning: The SFA Ladyjack basketball program has been one of the most dominant in women's basketball history. The Ladyjacks are among the nation's all-time top 10 with 729 wins. The Ladyjacks are also among the all-time top 10 with a .752 winning percentage (729-241).
Tradition of Winning in the SLC: As dominant as SFA has been nationally, they have been just as dominant in the Southland Conference. The Ladyjacks are the conference's most dominant team, compiling a 249-25 (.909) all-time record. SFA has won 14 of a possible 16 SLC tournament titles and 13 regular-season titles. SFA has also recorded four undefeated seasons in league play and has had 36 players named All-SLC.
Strength of Schedule: For a second consecutive season SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley has put together one of the nation's toughest schedules. The Ladyjacks 2003-04 non-conference schedule was ranked 12th toughest in the nation by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. SFAs upcoming schedule consists of four teams currently ranked among the nations top 25. The schedule also consists of three other teams that are currently listed among the "other receiving votes" category.
Preseason All-SLC: Sophomores Kirby Killingsworth and LaToya Mills were named to the 2003-04 Preseason All-Southland Conference teams. Killingsworth is the teams top returning scorer averaging 10.9 points per game as a freshman. She also recorded one of the top-10 seasons in school history in three-pointers and three-point field-goal percentage. Mills led the team in rebounding and was second on the team in scoring as a freshman. Mills finished her rookie year being named 2003 SLC Freshman of the Year.
Season-Openers: The Ladyjacks are 21-8 (.724) all-time in season-openers. SFA has won five of its last seven season-openers but has dropped its last two. Friday's game against Louisiana Tech marks the first time the Ladyjacks have opened the season home since they defeated Alcorn State, 88-46, to open the 2000-01 season.
Looking Ahead ... The Ladyjacks will be in Durham, N.C., Friday Dec. 5th and 6th competing in the Duke Women's Basketball Classic. SFA will battle No. 2 Duke on Friday at 3 p.m. The Ladyjacks will return to the court less than 24 hours later to face either No. 25 Auburn or Creighton. The Ladyjacks' game on Saturday will begin at 1 p.m.
