Stephen F. Austin
New Orleans
Ladyjacks Hold Off Late UNO Rally
12/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 13, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley wanted more fire and intensity from her troops to start games, and she got exactly what she wanted Saturday night. SFA recorded a 66-63 victory over New Orleans in the William R. Johnson Coliseum, marking the team's last home game until Jan. 14, 2009. The win improved SFA's record to 5-4 on the season.
The Ladyjacks were led by sharp-shooting sophomore Ebony Alexander who scored a career-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-10 on three-pointers. Recording one of their better offensive performance of the season, SFA connected on 46 percent of its shots in the opening half, and was nearly perfect from beyond the arc going 7-for-11 (.636). The Ladyjacks used their hot start to build an 18-point first lead.
Unfortunately for SFA, the Lady Privateers were just as hot from the field, shooting just under 40 percent in the opening 20 minutes, and knocking down 4-of-9 (.444) threes. Behind Jada Frazier's nine first-half points, and the team's advantage on the glass, UNO cut the Ladyjack lead to 10, 40-30, heading into the locker room.
The Lady Privateers came out of the locker room with all the momentum scoring the first seven points of the half, and going on a 13-3 run to tie the game at 43 with 15:44. The game would remain close for the rest of the contest with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage until the final 10 seconds of the game.
What turned into a back-n-forth game saw each team equal what the other was doing. If UNO knocked down a three on end, the Ladyjacks answered on the other. When the Lady Privateers pulled down an offensive rebound, they were hard-pressed to convert it into second-chance points due to SFA's stifling defense which forced 26 turnovers. Both teams finished the game 10-of-21 (.476) from beyond the three-point arc, while UNO had their 15 offensive rebounds neutralized by 26 turnovers.
Leading by only a point with under a minute remaining, the Ladyjacks worked the ball inside to sophomore Amina Sawyer who scored two of her six points with 33 seconds remaining to give SFA a three-point advantage, 64-61. It was at that point when SFA recorded forced its last, and most important, turnover of the game. Alexander stole the ball from UNO's Cookie Johnson, and rifled a bullet to senior Natashia Green at the other end of the floor to give SFA a five-point lead, and ultimately the win. UNO closed out the game with a Brittany Helm layup to record the final tally.
The Ladyjacks finished the night 23-of-53 (.434), but were outrebounded by eight, 37-29. SFA also made good on their free throws connecting on 10-of-13 (.769). The Lady Privateers finished the night 19-of-48 (.396).
Freshman Tammara Marion added 12 points, while Green chipped in seven. UNO had four players finish in double figures led by Johnson's 17 points. UNO's Candice McGee finished the game with 12 points, and 10 rebounds.
The Ladyjacks return to action Friday, Dec. 19, when they travel to Cancun, Mexico, to compete in the Cancun Caribbean Classic. SFA will open the tournament against Missouri State. The game against the Lady Bears is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.
-SFA-
