Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
Ladyjacks Break Out Brooms Against Sam Houston State
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks got a career-high 17 points from senior Jennifer Simpson and freshman Martina Holloway Friday night to defeat Sam Houston State, 82-71, on Fox Sports Southwest. The victory improved the Ladyjacks record to 17-8 overall and 9-3 in Southland Conference play. The win also pulled SFA back into a two-way tie for second place in the SLC West Division with Texas State.
The Bearkats scored the first bucket of the game, which turned out to be the Bearkats' only lead of the contest. The Ladyjacks responded with a Holloway three-pointer which sparked an 11-2 run to give SFA an early seven-point advantage. SFA built that lead to as many as 14 points in the first before taking an 11-point lead into the locker room.
The Ladyjacks built their lead off the hot shooting of Simpson, who was 6-of-9 from the field, and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Along with Simpson and Holloway's 17-point efforts, junior Nikki Carr chipped in 15 points in a game that was shaping up to be a second-half rout. But Sam Houston State made an early second half run to battle their way back in the game.
SFA started the second half sluggish making only one of its first six shots. The Ladyjacks didn't record their first field goal of the second half until 17:33 mark. The `Kats opened the half on a 10-2 run to cut the Ladyjacks' lead to only three, 43-40, with 15 minutes remaining.
To add insult to injury, Carr picked up her fourth personal foul with more than 16 minutes on the clock. SFA head coach Lee Ann Riley inserted sophomore Natashia Green which ignited a Ladyjack run.
Green finished the game with eight points and five rebounds. She was 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, as the Ladyjacks finished the second half 13-of-30 (43 percent) from the floor. The Ladyjacks maintained the intensity offensively, while the defense began to impose its will against Sam Houston State. The Ladyjacks held SHSU to a 33 percent performance from the field, and also forced the Bearkats into 20 turnovers. SFA outrebounded their visitors, 52-50.
The Ladyjacks also received a career performance from senior Natalie Kizzee who scored eight points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds. Green also added eight points in a victorious effort.
The Ladyjacks return to action Thursday, Feb. 22, to take on Texas State. The game will begin at 7 p.m. from Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos, Texas.
-SFA-
