Buzzer-Beater Propels SFA to Win
11/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - Senior Alex Bowman stepped up to play the role of hero Tuesday night as the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team defeated Athletes in Action, 73-72. Bowman finished the game with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-9 (.667) shooting. Tuesday's night's game marked the Ladyjacks final exhibition before they open the 2004-05 regular season at home Friday Nov. 19.
AIA jumped out of the gate early building a 12-point advantage, 25-13, with 8:46 remaining in the first half. The touring team of former collegiate standouts rode the back of Jessie Stomski who finished the night with 18 points and seven rebounds. But it didn't take SFA long to fight their way back into the contest. The Ladyjacks overcame a 12-of-20 first-half performance from AIA by forcing them in 29 miscues. The Ladyjacks converted those turnovers into points on the other end going on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 26 with 5:10 on the clock. AIA took a three-point advantage into the locker.
The second half started out in similar fashion to the first as AIA built a seven-point advantage, 42-35, less than three minutes into the half. But the Ladyjacks once again turned to their stingy defense to claw their way back into the contest, claiming their first lead, 54-53, since the opening minutes of the game. Eight different Ladyjacks recorded a steal in the contest led by juniors Britany Vinson and Kirby Killingsworth who each had four. Vinson also added 10 points and four assists.
Senior Zedralyn Butler scored 13 points and junior LaToya Mills added 10 points and nine rebounds as SFA built its lead to four points, 71-67, with less than two minutes remaining, but AIA made one final run that gave them a one-point lead, 72-71, on Katrina Green's three-pointer with only 24 seconds remaining. Green finished the game with five points and three rebounds.
But that was as close to victory as the visitors would get as Bowman hit a six-foot jumper from the baseline with only a second on the clock for the victory.
Killingsworth had a strong all-around game scoring nine points, dishing out five assists, recording four steals and grabbing two rebounds.
The Ladyjacks open the regular season Friday Nov. 19, when they host Rice in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.
-SFA-
