Ladyjacks Begin Stretch Run
2/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team begins a tough stretch run of the 2003-04 season, as four of their final six games will be away from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks will be in Lake Charles, La., Wednesday to face McNeese State. The rematch with the Cowgirls is scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m. The Ladyjacks will be back in Nacogdoches Saturday to host Nicholls State. The game against the Lady Colonels is slated to get underway at 4 p.m.
SFA vs. the Cowgirls: The Ladyjacks are 33-5 (.868) all-time against McNeese State. SFA has won 13 of the last 15 games against the Cowgirls but has dropped the last two decisions. The Cowgirls defeated SFA in overtime, 89-80, last season in Lake Charles.
SFA vs. the Colonels: The Ladyjacks are 28-1 (.966) all-time against Nicholls State. SFA has won the last 28 meetings between the two schools with the lone Lady Colonel victory coming during the 1984-85 season. The Ladyjacks defeated Nicholls State, 62-45, last season in Nacogdoches.
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 734 wins. The Ladyjacks are also among the all-time top 10 with a .741 winning percentage (734-257).
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 254-30 (.894) all-time record. SFA has won 14 of a possible 16 SLC tournament titles and 13 regular-season titles. SFA has also recorded four undefeated seasons in league play and has had 36 players named All-SLC.
Riley vs. the SLC: SFA head basketball coach Lee Ann Riley is in her third season with the Ladyjacks. During that span, Riley has coached her troops to a 39-11 (.780) mark in Southland Conference games.
Home Sweet Home: The Ladyjacks are one of the all-time winningest teams at home, with an all-time record of 322-80 (.801). The Ladyjacks have now won 56 of their last 67 games in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks were 10-2 at home last season.
Academic Shootout: The Ladyjack Academic Shootout will be held Saturday Feb. 21st, when the Ladyjacks host Nicholls State. There will be a pledge table set up at the front gate of the William R. Johnson Coliseum at every remaining home game for fans to sign up. Fans can pledge money for every point the Ladyjacks score against NSU. The money will go to help raise funds for summer school scholarships.
A Game to Remember: Sophomore LaToya Mills had a career-night Tuesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Mills scored a career-high 24 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds. Mills' 24 points are the most scored by a Ladyjack since classmate Britany Vinson drained 27 points in the regular-season finale against Northwestern State last season. Mills' 14 rebounds are the most by a Ladyjack since Latisha Prater pulled down 14 against Texas-Arlington during the 2001-02 season.
The Simpsons: Rookie guard Jennifer Simpson has jumped into the starting lineup for SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley. But over the course of the last two ballgames, Simpson has viewed herself as more of a post player than a guard. Simpson recorded a career-high eight rebounds against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Proving that game wasn't a fluke, Simpson grabbed seven caroms against Texas-Arlington on Saturday. In the last two games, Simpson is averaging 6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1.5 assists.
Sports Carr: Freshman Nikki Carr has done a solid job of taking over the point guard responsibilities in her rookie season. Not only is she leading the team in assists and steals, but over the course of the last four games she has become an even bigger scoring threat. Carr is averaging 10.0 points per game during that span, including a career-high 15 points against Louisiana-Monroe.
Extra Basketball: The Ladyjacks' 72-69 overtime loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Tuesday night was the 23rd overtime game in Ladyjack history. The Ladyjacks are 15-8 (.652) all-time in overtime games
Great Brit: Sophomore Britany Vinson drained four three-pointers against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It is the third time this season and the fourth time in her career that she has nailed as many as four triples in a game. Vinson leads the Southland Conference with a .418 three-point field-goal percentage. She is 10th in the league averaging 1.40 triples per game.
Air Raid: Sophomore guards Kirby Killingsworth and Britany Vinson are leaving their mark on the SFA record books. With her three-pointer against Texas-Arlington, Killingsworth now has 76 for her career. The 76 three-pointers are the seventh-best mark in school history. Vinson has nailed 52 treys in her career, placing her ninth all-time at SFA. Vinson leads the team with 28 treys while Killingsworth is second on the team with 25. Vinson also leads the Southland Conference with a .400 three-point field-goal percentage.
Looking Ahead ... The Ladyjacks return to action Thursday Feb. 26th, when they travel to Beaumont, Texas to take on Lamar in the Montagne Center. The game against the Lady Cardinals will begin at 7 p.m. SFA will be in Huntsville two nights later for the rematch with Sam Houston State. The game against the Bearkats is scheduled to get under way at 4 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
