Stephen F. Austin
SLC Championships -- Texas-Arlington
Ladyjacks Fall in SLC Championship Game
3/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 10, 2007
HOUSTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team lost to Texas-Arlington, 68-47, in the 2007 Southland Conference Championship game Saturday afternoon at the Campbell Center in Houston, Texas. The Ladyjacks (21-11) will not be making a return trip to the NCAA Championships, but their season will continue by receiving an automatic bid to the WNIT.
The Ladyjacks struggled from the floor early in the game shooting less than 30 percent from the floor, and not converting a three-pointer. The shooting woes were compounded when 2007 SLC Player of the Year Charity Egenti went to the bench with her third foul and 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Even with Egenti on the bench the Lady Mavs could not pull away from SFA, as the Ladyjacks kept the deficit at five points. UTA shot 44 percent in the first half, and out rebounded the Ladyjacks by six, but SFA forced Texas-Arlington into 11 first half turnovers which they turned into eight points. SFA trailed by only five, 31-26, heading into halftime.
The second half was similar to the second half of the game in Nacogdoches, where UTA picked up the intensity on the offensive end. The Lady Mavs built their advantage to 18 points behind Terra Wallace's game-high 22 points. UTA seemed to be in complete control of the game, but the Ladyjacks wouldn't go down without one more fight.
The Ladyjacks rattled off eight unanswered points to cut the deficit to 10 points with 4:31 remaining. Junior Nikki Carr sparked the rally with her nine points and eight rebounds, while senior Charity Egenti added nine points and seven rebounds. But UTA closed out the game on a 13-2 run to win the game.
Seniors Evelyn Edwards and Jennifer Simpson added eight points. Sophomore Natashia Green came off the bench to add seven points on 3-of-4 shooting. Egenti and Carr were both named to the 2007 SLC All-Tournament team.
The Ladyjacks will return to action in the WNIT next week. SFA will know its opponent following the NCAA selection show Monday evening.
-SFA-
