Stephen F. Austin
McNeese State
Ladyjacks Fall to McNeese State
1/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 15, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - Despite having five players score in double figures the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team lost to McNeese State, 62-59, Thursday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are now 0-12 overall and 0-2 in the SLC play.
Despite shooting below 30 percent for a majority of the first half, the Ladyjacks battled McNeese State, trailing by no more than six points during the first half. The Ladyjacks overcame a 9-of-22 (.409) first-half shooting performance by the Cowgirls by dominating the glass, 41-30, and forcing McNeese State into 28 turnovers.
The Ladyjacks trailed McNeese State by six points, 27-21, with only 1:08 remaining in the first half when SFA made a run. Sparked by four Cowgirl turnovers, SFA outscored McNeese State, 7-0, in the final 68 seconds to go into halftime with a 28-27 lead. Sophomore Kirby Killingsworth scored a layup to put the Ladyjacks up by one heading into the intermission. Killingsworth finished the game with 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Ladyjacks seemed to hold the momentum in the second half building their advantage to five points, 35-30, led by sophomore LaToya Mills' 13 points and team-high nine rebounds. Classmate Kendria Smith added 11 points on 4-of-7 (.571) shooting but McNeese State battled back to tie the game at 47 with 6:17 remaining.
The Cowgirls scored seven of the game's next 10 points to build a four-point advantage 54-50, riding the back of Shamika Stewart who finished with a game-high 14 points on 5-of-10 (.500) shooting.
The Ladyjacks tied the game at 56 with only 62 seconds on the clock but were outscored, 6-3, over the final minute of the ballgame as McNeese State held on for their first victory in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
Junior Tiffany Perkins scored a career-high 11 points and pulled down a career-high six rebounds for SFA. Sophomore Britany Vinson added 10 points.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday when they face Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lady Lions scheduled to tipoff at 4 p.m., in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
-SFA-
