It's Basketball Time
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - After going 1-1 in its two exhibition games, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball is set to open the 2004-05 regular season. The Ladyjacks will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2003-04 season that saw them finish 9-19 (.321) overall and in a two-way tie for fifth place in the Southland Conference. The Ladyjacks will open the season against Rice Friday night. The game against the Owls is slated to tip-off at 7 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
SFA vs. the Owls The Ladyjacks are 2-1 (.667) all-time against Rice. The Ladyjacks lone loss in the series came last season when SFA suffered a 94-50 setback in Houston at the Gene Hackerman/Rice Invitational. Friday's game will be only the second meeting between the two teams since the 1977-78 season when the Ladyjacks recorded an 86-31 victory over the Owls. The only other meeting between the two schools came during the 1974-75 season when the Ladyjacks earned an 82-20 decision.
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 738 wins. The Ladyjacks are also among the all-time top 10 with a .739 winning percentage (738-260).
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 258-32 (.890) all-time record. SFA has won 14 of a possible 17 SLC tournament titles and 13 regular-season titles. SFA has also recorded four undefeated seasons in league play and has had 38 players named All-SLC.
Home Sweet Home The Ladyjacks are one of the all-time winningest teams at home, with an all-time record of 323-81 (.800). The Ladyjacks have won 57 of their last 69 games in the coliseum.
Preseason Polls The Ladyjacks have been picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference in a preseason poll of the league's coaches. The conference sports information directors picked the Ladyjacks sixth.
All-SLC The Ladyjacks return one of the most talented low-post combinations in the Southland Conference. SFA returns forward LaToya Mills and post Kendria Smith for their junior seasons. Both players were named to the Preseason All-SLC second team.
Returning Veterans The Ladyjacks return a wealth of experience from last year's squad including 11 letterwinners and all five starters.
The Newcomers The Ladyjacks added two players to the roster during the offseason a freshman and a junior college transfer. Natalie Kizzee is a 6-1 post player from Houston, Texas, who transferred to SFA from Kilgore College. Shanae Green is a 5-4 freshman point guard from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks will be in the Bahamas as they compete in the Junkanoo Jam tournament. SFA will open the tournament Friday Nov. 26 against No. 6 (ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll) Duke. The Ladyjacks will face either No. 19 Kansas State or Illinois State Saturday evening.
