Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas State
Quick Start Hands SFA 78-65 Win Over ASU
12/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team concluded its current three-game home stand Tuesday night with a 78-65 victory over Arkansas State. The Ladyjacks have now won their last four games and are 5-3 (.625) on the season.
The Ladyjacks came roaring out of the gate setting the nets on fire hitting 12 of their first 15 shots to build a 15-4 advantage with 16:19 on the clock. Junior Kirby Killingsworth provided the lighter fluid, finishing the game with a season-high 22 points on 5-of-8 (.625) shooting from beyond the three-point arc. She was also dominant in other areas for SFA recording four rebounds, three assists and one steal.
The Lady Indians were their own worst enemy in the first half committing 13 first-half turnovers that SFA cashed in for 18 point as the Ladyjacks built their lead to 19 points, 45-26, with 3:59 remaining. Despite their ball-handling woes, ASU was able to cut the lead to 14 points, 51-37, at halftime behind Adrianne Davie's 18 points and 16 rebounds.
ASU opened the second in similar fashion to how the Ladyjacks opened the first half, going on a 10-2 run to pull within six points, 53-47. But the Ladyjacks always seemed to have an answer. Senior Alex Bowman was one of those answers scoring 16 points and grabbing five rebounds as SFA increased its lead back to double-digits, 71-59, with only 4:31 remaining.
The Lady Indians tried to fight their way back in the game one final time by forcing SFA to the free-throw line. Despite shooting only 7-of-15 (.467) from the charity stripe, the Ladyjacks hit their free throws when they needed them, sinking four of their final six attempts for the victory.
Junior LaToya Mills had another big night for SFA recording her second-straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Zedralyn Butler added six points.
The Ladyjacks did a great job of distributing the ball as every player who got in the game scored at least two points.
The Ladyjacks return to action Tuesday Dec. 28, when they travel to New Orleans, La., to face Tulane in the first round of the Tulane/DoubleTree Classic. The game against the Green Wave will tip-off at 6 p.m.
-SFA-
