Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
SFA Sends Bearkats Home Empty-Handed
2/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2005
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team got 20 points and seven rebounds from junior Britany Vinson as SFA avenged an earlier loss to Sam Houston State, 66-56, Saturday afternoon in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks improved to 12-9 (.571) on the season and 6-4 (.600) in Southland Conference play.
The first half was a close, controlled game that saw neither team build a lead more than six points. The Ladyjacks scored the first bucket of the game but wouldn't see the lead again until the 3:34 mark of the first half when senior Alex Bowman hit a jumper to give SFA a 23-22 advantage. Bowman finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds on the afternoon. But the Ladyjacks would go into the intermission trailing by three, 30-27.
The Ladyjacks opened the second half connecting on four of their first six shots while limiting the Bearkats to one of its first six to take a 33-32 lead with 17:53 remaining. The Ladyjacks then went on an 18-7 run to push their advantage to 14 points, 53-39, with 6:55 on the clock.
SFA pushed its advantage to as many as 20 points before Sam Houston State made a late rally. The Bearkats nailed four three-pointers in the final 3:11 of the contest to cut the Ladyjack lead to eight points, but it was too little, too late for the visitors from Huntsville as SFA held on for the victory.
Junior Kendria Smith scored 11 points while classmate Natalie Kizzee scored eight points and pulled down three rebounds. Junior Kirby Killingsworth scored six points and had a game-high five steals.
The Ladyjacks return to action Wednesday when they travel to Lake Charles, La., to take on McNeese State. The game against the Cowgirls is slated to begin at 5:15 p.m., from Burton Coliseum.
-SFA-
