Ladyjacks Host Lamar Saturday in William R. Johnson Coliseum
1/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2006
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team rebounded from its disappointing showing last Saturday in San Antonio, by knocking off league-leader, and defending conference co-champion Texas-Arlington, 39-35, Thursday night in Arlington. The four-point victory improved the SFA record to 12-6 (.667) overall and back into a tie for first place in the league standings with a 6-1 (.857) record. SFA will look to make it two in a row, as it hosts Lamar (7-9/2-4 SLC) Saturday at 4 p.m., in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Lady Cardinals have now won their last two ball games.
The Coaches: Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley is 72-60 (.545) in her fifth season with SFA. She is 203-118 (.631) in her 11th season as a head coach. Lamar head coach Leonard Drake is 23-73 (.240) in his fourth season with the Lady Cardinals. He is 65-180 (.265) in nine seasons as a head coach.
SFA vs. the Lady Cardinals: The Ladyjacks are 37-2 (.949) all-time against Lamar. The Ladyjacks have won the last 12 meetings in the series, including an 80-58 decision over the Lady Cardinals in Beaumont earlier this season. SFA recorded a 76-61 victory over Lamar in Nacogdoches in the only meeting between the two teams last season.
Attacking the Glass: Senior LaToya Mills was close to unstoppable on the glass Thursday night, against Texas-Arlington. She finished the game with a career-high 24 rebounds including 10 offensive boards. Mills' 24 rebounds mark the first time a Ladyjack has grabbed at least 20 rebounds in a game since Christie Smith recorded 20 rebounds against then Northeast Louisiana in the 1994-95 season. It is also the most rebounds by a Ladyjack since Doris Felderhoff posted 25 in the 1976-77 season.
Rewriting History: Senior LaToya Mills recorded a career-high 24 rebounds in the Ladyjacks four-point victory over Texas-Arlington Thursday, and in the process placed her name in yet another school top-10 list. The 24 rebounds place Mills tied for fourth on the school's all-time single-game records list. Mills also placed her name at the top of the NCAA charts with her 24 rebounds. The 24 boards are the most by a player at the NCAA Division I level this season.
Double-Double: Despite having only two points and eight rebounds at intermission, senior LaToya Mills stepped up her game in the second half against Texas-Arlington. Mills finished with 14 points and a career-high 24 rebounds. It marks the fifth time this season and the 25 time in her career that she has recorded double-figure points and rebounds in a game.
Millennium Club: Senior LaToya Mills became the 22nd Ladyjack to record 1,000 points in a career earlier this season. She currently has 1,197 career points.
Offensive Offense: Both SFA and Texas-Arlington struggled offensively Thursday night in the showdown that resulted in a four-point SFA victory at Texas Hall. The Ladyjacks started the 0-for-8, while UTA was an equally unimpressive 1-for-12. SFA entered the halftime shooting only 13 percent from the floor, while the Lady Mavs were held to a lowly 12.9 percent. Despite the fact that both teams picked up the pace in the second half, SFA finished the game 11-for-48 (.229) from the floor, while Texas-Arlington connected on only 12-of-62 (.194) shot attempts.
The Defense Doesn't Rest: The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team put forth one of its best defensive performance in school history, Thursday night against Texas-Arlington. The Ladyjacks held UTA to only 35 points on 12-of-62 (.194) shooting. It was the first time the Ladyjacks held an opponent below 40 points since the 2002-03 season when SFA surrendered only 38 points to Lamar. It is the fewest points surrendered by a Ladyjack team since SFA held Texas-San Antonio to only 32 points during the 2000-01 season.
Speed Limit 70: The magic number for SFA this season seems to be 70. The Ladyjacks are a perfect 9-0 on the season when scoring 70 points in a contest.
Slowing Down the League Leaders: Not only did SFA defeat the previously league-leading Texas-Arlington Lady Mavs and put an end to their seven-game win streak. The Ladyjacks also slowed down the conference's leading scorer. UTA's Terra Wallace entered Thursday's game averaging 18.9 points per contest, but the Ladyjacks held her to only eight points Thursday night.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday Feb. 4, when they travel to Natchitoches, La. to face Northwestern State. The game against the Lady Demons is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. from Prather Coliseum.
