Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Ladyjacks Win Behind Strong Second-Half Shooting Performance
1/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2008
NACOGDOCHES - Despite missing their first eight shots and falling behind, 10-0, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team rallied for a 68-64 win over Nicholls State Thursday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The win improves SFA to 4-9 on the season, and more importantly 1-0 in Southland Conference play.
Things didn't look positive for the purple and white early. While SFA was mired in an 0-for-8 slump to start the game, Nicholls State connected on its first five possessions to take a 10-point lead. Junior Natashia Green stopped the bleeding when she drilled a three-pointer with 14:22 left in the half. SFA scored six consecutive points to pull within four, but the Colonels had an answer.
In fact the Ladyjacks were able to cut into the lead on several occasions in the first half, but Nicholls State always seemed to find a way to stop the rally. Led by Katherine Plummer's nine points and five rebounds in the first half, NSU was able to take an eight-point advantage into the locker room, 24-16.
Considering SFA's opening-half struggles, an eight-point deficit did not seem insurmountable. While NSU shot 43 percent in the opening half, and outrebounded the Ladyjacks by two, SFA was held to a 7-of-31 (.226) performance. Along with that, team leading scorer Nikki Carr was held scoreless in the first 20 minutes, but all of that would change in the second half.
Carr and company finally put it together in the second stanza. Scoring all 11 of her points in the final 20 minutes, the Ladyjacks were able to rally and tie the game at 37 with 12:29 remaining. NSU was able to answer, momentarily, but the Ladyjacks' freshman class began to take over.
Freshman Jordan Ford made two strong moves in the paint to score consecutive buckets and start another rally. The Ladyjacks took their first lead of the game, 43-42, with 9:27 remaining. Although Nicholls State would battle back to tie the game, it would be as close to a conference-opening victory as NSU would get.
While Ford finished the game with 18 points and nine rebounds, classmate Chantol Drennan came off the bench to add 11 points and pull down eight rebounds. Freshman Antoinette Davis added eight points and eight rebounds, while classmate Decreasha Goodner chipped in nine.
The youngsters guided SFA to one of its strongest shooting performances in a half this season. SFA was 18-of-29 from the floor for 62 percent, and finished the game shooting 41.7 percent. The Ladyjacks also fought back to win the battle on the boards, 43-40.
The one positive that remained throughout the game was the Ladyjacks' defense. SFA forced Nicholls State into 22 turnovers, including 12 in the first half. The Ladyjacks only turned ball 13 times.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday when they host Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lady Lions is slated to begin at 6 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Colisuem.
- SFA -
