On the Road Again
1/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2006
The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team (8-5/2-0 SLC) kicked off the Southland Conference season in victorious fashion this past weekend, winning its first two games and jumping to the top of the SLC standings. The Ladyjacks, winners of three straight and seven of their last nine, will look to make it four consecutive victories as they travel to Beaumont, Texas, Thursday to face Lamar (5-6/1-1 SLC). The game against the Lady Cardinals is slated to begin at 7 p.m., from the Montagne Center. SFA will then travel to Lake Charles, La., on Saturday to face McNeese State (6-7/0-2 SLC). The game against the Cowgirls will begin at 3 p.m., from Burton Coliseum.
SFA vs. the Lady Cardinals: The Ladyjacks are 36-2 (.947) all-time against Lamar, and have won the last 11 meetings between the two schools. Last season, SFA won the only meeting between the two teams with a 76-61 decision in Nacogdoches. The last time the Lady Cardinals picked up a victory in the series was the 1998-99 season when Lamar recorded a 76-62 decision.
199 Down, One To Go: SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley is only one win shy of career victory No. 200. Riley currently stands at 199 all-time wins in her 11 seasons as a head coach.
Solid Start: The Ladyjacks' current 8-5 (.615) overall record is the best start for SFA since the 2001-02 season when the Ladyjacks jumped out to an identical 8-5 (.615) start. The Ladyjacks' 2-0 Southland Conference record is the team's best start since the 2002-03 season.
Being Offensive: Offensive is a term that most people would rather not be associated with, but that is about the best way to describe the 2005-06 Ladyjacks. Over the course of the past three games the Ladyjacks are averaging 82.7 points per game and shooting 95-of-190 (50 percent) from the field. The Ladyjacks are currently leading the league in scoring offense (75.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (.441).
Forty Something: The Ladyjacks held Southeastern Louisiana to only 48 points Saturday afternoon. It marks the second time this season that SFA has held an opponent below 50 points (Arkansas-Little Rock).
The Defense Doesn't Rest: The Ladyjack defense was stellar Saturday afternoon, holding the Lady Lions to a 19-of-61 (.311) performance. It marks the second time this season that the Ladyjacks have held an opponent below 32 percent from the field.
Double-Double: Senior LaToya Mills continued her dominating ways Thursday night in the victory against Nicholls State. Mills finished the game with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds. It marked her fourth double-double of the season, and the 24th of her career.
More Double-Doubles: Junior Evelyn Edwards had a career night in the Ladyjacks' victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday afternoon. Edwards recorded her first career double-double, with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Edwards is averaging 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds over the team's last three games.
SFA Gaines Momentum: Freshman Jessica Gaines came off the bench Saturday to provide a spark for the Ladyjacks. Gaines scored a career-high eight points on 2-of-2 shooting. She was also a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks will be back at home Thursday Jan. 19, to host Texas State. The game against the Bobcats is set to tip off at 7 p.m., in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. SFA will then hit the road two nights later to face Texas-San Antonio. The game against the Roadrunners is set to begin at 2 p.m., from the Convocation Center in San Antonio.
