Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana-Monroe
Ladyjack Rally Falls Short
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 4, 2005
NACOGDOCHES - Senior night ended on a sour note for the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team, as SFA rallied from a 15-point deficit only to fall by two points to Southland Conference Co-Champion Louisiana-Monroe, 66-64, Friday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks wrap up the regular season with a 12-15 (.444) overall record and will be the No. 7 seed in the SLC tournament after finishing with a 6-10 (.375) league record.
After carrying an eight-point advantage into the intermission and pushing its lead to as many as 15 points, 51-36, in the second half, the Lady Indians seemed in control of the game. But the Ladyjacks mounted a rally led by sophomore Evelyn Edwards and senior Alex Bowman. Bowman scored a game-high 22 points and Edwards chipped in 11 second half point to spark an 18-6 run to pull SFA within four points, 57-53, with 7:24 remaining.
The Lady Indians were able to hold SFA at bay behind Gerline Guillaume's 17 points until the final minute of the game. Bowman hit a jumper with 53 seconds left to pull SFA within one. After a Michelle Biley layup gave ULM back a three-point advantage, the Ladyjacks turned the ball over and were forced to foul Guillaume with only 24 seconds left. But Guillaume missed both free throws and the Ladyjacks pulled to within a point on a Kendria Smith layup. The Ladyjacks then put April O'Neal on the line who hit only one of two shots leaving the door wide open for SFA. But the Ladyjacks couldn't convert as Bowman's running jumper rolled off the rim.
Senior Stacey Szymanski finished the game with 10 points on 4-of-5 (.800) shooting. All 10 of Szymanski's points came in the first half. Classmate Zedralyn Butler finished the night with four points and three rebounds while Jaliyla Muhammad added two.
The Ladyjacks return to action Monday night in the first round of the SLC tournament. The Ladyjacks will take on Texas-Arlington Monday at 7 p.m., from Texas Hall in Arlington.
-SFA-
