Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Ladyjacks Overcome Turnovers to Defeat Nicholls State
1/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2007
THIBODAUX, La. - The Ladyjacks escaped Thibodaux, La., with a 58-52 victory over Nicholls State Thursday night. The victory propelled SFA to 9-5 overall and more importantly gives SFA a 1-0 start in league play, while Nicholls State drops to 2-10 overall and 0-1 in SLC play.
After a close first half of action that saw SFA take a two-point lead, 23-21, into the locker room, the Ladyjacks opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take an eight-point lead, 29-21. But SFA wasn't able to shake a pesky Nicholls State team that hung close all night.
The Ladyjacks shot 23-of-64 (.359) from the floor, and held NSU to an 18-of-57 (.316) performance, but the Lady Colonels were able to hang in the game due to SFA's turnover problem. The Ladyjacks turned the ball over 23 times, while forcing Nicholls State into only 10 miscues.
NSU cut the Ladyjack lead down to three points numerous times late in the game, but the Ladyjacks were able to maintain the advantage with their dominant performance on the glass. SFA outrebounded the Lady Colonels, 57-26, including 26 offensive rebounds. SFA was led by senior Charity Egenti who scored 18 points and pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds.
SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley was able to push all the right buttons Thursday night. Even when Egenti was forced to the bench in the second half due to foul trouble, classmate Evelyn Edwards provided the spark. Edwards scored all 16 of her points in the second half and finished the game with seven rebounds. Senior Natalie Kizzee, who got the start, also added six points and nine rebounds.
The Ladyjacks will look to go to 2-0 in conference play Saturday afternoon when they travel to Hammond, La., to face Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lady Lions is slated to begin at 3 p.m. from the University Center. SLU enters the game having recorded the best record in the SLC East during non-conference action, while the Ladyjacks bring the best record for the league's west division.
-SFA-
