Stephen F. Austin
Exhibition
Ladyjacks Open With a Victory
11/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2003
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team opened up the 2003-04 exhibition season with a 99-91 victory over the National Women's Basketball League All-Stars.
The Ladyjacks struggled offensively in the first half going 13-for-44 (.295). But SFA hung tough and went into the halftime trailing only by five points, 45-40, relying on sophomore LaToya Mills' 13 first-half points and nine first-half rebounds. She finished the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The visiting all-star team built its lead to as many as nine points before the Ladyjacks went on a 18-5 run with 18:19 remaining in the second half to take their first lead, 59-57, since early in the first half. Sophomore Kirby Killingsworth ignited the rally with 15 second-half points. She finished the game with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. Killingsworth also added six rebounds and four steals in the victorious effort.
The Ladyjacks increased their advantage to as many 12 points behind junior Alex Bowman's 15 points and five rebounds. The NWBL All-Stars cut the lead to five points with only 2:28 remaining but the Ladyjacks outscored the visitors, 7-4, over the final 2:28 of the game.
Junior-college transfer Stacey Szymanski had a big opening night for the Ladyjacks scoring 14 points, pulling down seven rebounds, recording two steals and blocking one shot. Sophomore Britany Vinson scored nine points and dished out four assists while freshman Nikki Carr added eight points off the bench.
The Ladyjacks return to action Friday Nov. 14th, when they host the Perik Jumpers in the final exhibition game of the season. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
-SFA-
