Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Ladyjacks Shoot Down Cardinals
2/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2004
BEAUMONT, Texas - Four players scored in double figures as the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks defeated Lamar, 72-57, Thursday night at the Montagne Center. The Ladyjacks are now 7-17 (.292) overall and 7-6 (.538) in Southland Conference play. The victory guaranteed the Ladyjacks a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament.
The first half shaped up as a close game that saw SFA build a nine-point lead, 26-17, with 6:45 remaining in the first half. Sophomore LaToya Mills led the way in the first half as she scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds. The Ladyjacks shot a solid 15-of-35 (.429) in the first half while outrebounding Lamar, 22-16. But the Lady Cardinals fought their back to tie the game at 34 heading into the halftime, shooting 12-of-26 (.462) from the floor.
The Ladyjacks took command of the game in the second half, going on a 34-14 run to build a 20-point advantage, 68-48, with only 5:27 on the clock. Sophomore Kendria Smith led the charge for SFA scoring a team-high 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Junior Stacey Szymanski added 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds for SFA.
But the Lady Cardinals fought back one last time, cutting the Ladyjack lead to 11 points, 68-57, with only 3:12 left. Lamar's Rashekii Howard led the Lady Cardinals with 15 points but the rally fell short as SFA nailed its free throws down the stretch. The Ladyjacks went 15-for-21 (.714) from the free-throw line.
Mills finished the game with 12 points and eight rebounds. Junior Alex Bowman scored 12 points, pulled down four rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two steals.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday when they travel to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston State. The game against the Bearkats is slated to get underway at 4 p.m., from the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
-SFA-
