Ladyjacks Host Louisiana Tech
11/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2006
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team will look to make it two wins in a row Friday when they host Louisiana Tech. The Ladyjacks dropped their season-opening game at Tulane, but rebounded with a seven-point victory at Southern Mississippi. SFA will host Louisiana Tech (0-1) Friday, at 7 p.m. The Ladyjacks will return to action Monday to face SMU. The Mustangs are 1-0 after defeating Texas-San Antonio, 78-49, in their season opener. Both games will be played in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
SFA vs. the Lady Techsters: The Ladyjacks trail the all-time series, 24-5, against Louisiana Tech. SFA has dropped the past four meetings to the Lady Techsters. The Ladyjacks last win in the series came during the 1990-91 season when SFA recorded a 77-74 overtime decision. The last time the two teams met in Nacogdoches, the Lady Techsters recorded 109-60 victory. The series dates back to the 1977-78 season when SFA recorded an 80-67 victory.
SFA vs. the Mustangs: The Ladyjacks are 8-2 (.800) all-time against SMU. SFA won the first seven meetings between the two programs. The Mustangs have won two of the last three contests, but SFA recorded a 79-72 victory the last time the two school stepped on the court (1998-99).
Tradition of Winning The SFA Ladyjack basketball program has been one of the most dominant programs in women's basketball history. The Ladyjacks are among the nation's all-time top 10 with 774 wins. The Ladyjacks are also among the all-time top 10 with a .732 winning percentage (774-284).
Home Sweet Home: The Ladyjacks are one of the nation's all-time winningest teams at home, with a 345-85 (.802) all-time record. The Ladyjacks have 80 of their last 93 games at home and were a perfect 14-0 at home last season.
Purple, White and Green: SFA is not making green an official color, but Tulane and Southern Mississippi saw plenty of green, Natashia Green that is, in the team's first two games. Green led the Ladyjacks with 12 points on 4-of-7 (.571) shooting at Tulane. It marked the first time in Green's career that she recorded double figures. Green followed that performance up by scoring a career-high 18 points in the team's seven-point victory against Southern Miss. Green shot 6-of-11 (.545) from the floor, and 2-of-4 (.500) from beyond the arc, against the Golden Eagles. Green was also a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line against Southern Miss.
Charity Tosses: Coming into the 2006-07 season, senior post player Charity Egenti was being counted on to be a dominant presence in the low post for SFA. The season is still very young, but so far Egenti has not disappointed. Egenti is second on the team averaging 10.5 points per game, leads the Ladyjacks averaging 7.0 rebounds per game and is tied for tops on the team averaging 2.0 blocks per game (Evelyn Edwards).
Between a Block and a Hard Place: SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley has done a great job of producing some of the league top defensive talent, in terms of shot blockers. First it was Amy Collins, who graduated as the school all-time, season and single-game leader in blocked shots. Then Kendria Smith who finished her eligibility ranked third all-time at SFA in blocked shots. Smith owns the school second-best single-season mark and is tied with Collins for the best single-game mark. Riley seems to have two players this season ready to pick up where the others have left off. Seniors Evelyn Edwards and Charity Egenti are tied for the mark in the Southland Conference averaging 2.0 blocks per game. The Ladyjacks, as a team, lead the conference having recorded 11 blocks in the first two games of the season.
Need Assistance: Junior point guard Nikki Carr is picking up right where she left off last season. Carr is currently tops on the squad averaging 5.5 assists per game. She currently leads all players in the conference with 11 assists.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks will spend the Thanksgiving weekend in Tampa, Fla., at the Best Western Roundball Classic. SFA will face Massachusetts Saturday, Nov. 25 at noon (11 a.m. Nacogdoches time). The Ladyjacks will face either tournament-host South Florida or St. Francis (N.Y.) in the second round of the of the tournament.
