SFA, Northwestern State Clash Next on the Docket
2/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2008
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team looks for its second consecutive victory when it hosts Northwestern State Saturday at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks enter the contest with an 8-14 (.363) overall record, and 5-5 (.500) in Southland Conference play. The Ladyjacks are coming off an impressive 82-65 victory over Central Arkansas in Conway, Ark., Thursday evening. The Ladyjacks have now won two of their last three games. Northwestern State is 11-12 (.478) overall, and 4-6 (.400) in Southland Conference play. The Lady Demons enter Saturday's game riding a three-game win streak. The game against the Lady Demons is slated to begin at 6 p.m., and is the Ladyjacks' "Think Pink" game.
Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley is 112-88 (.560) in her seventh season in Nacogdoches. She is 243-146 (.625) in 13 seasons as a head coach. Northwestern State head coach Jennifer Graf is 59-58 (.504) in her fifth season with the Lady Demon program.
The Ladyjacks have dominated the all-time series against Northwestern State owning a 43-16 (.729) all-time record. The Ladyjacks have won two straight in the series, and three of the last five. Saturday's game will mark the first time the two programs have played in Nacogdoches since the 2004-05 season, when the Ladyjacks recorded a 58-55 victory. SFA won the only meeting against the Lady Demons last year with a 62-59 win in Natchitoches, La.
Saturday's game against Northwestern State will serve as the Ladyjacks' "Think Pink" game. "Think Pink" is an initiative started by the WBCA to aid in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in local communities and beyond. SFA will contribute to awareness by sporting pink laces in their shoes and pink pre-wrap with their athletic tape. In addition, SFA will donate half of the proceeds from ticket sales for Saturday's game to the American Cancer Society.
Senior Nikki Carr exploded for a career-high 30 points in the Ladyjacks' 17-point victory at Central Arkansas Thursday night. Carr finished the night shooting 8-of-15 (.533) from the floor, 3-of-6 (.500) from beyond the arc and 11-of-12 (.917) from the free throw line. It marked the first time a Ladyjack has scored 30 points in a game since LaToya Mills struck for 30 against Jackson State during the 2004-05 season.
Carr recorded her fourth double-double of the season, Thursday night when she scored 30 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. She just missed her first-career triple-double by three assists, finishing the game with seven. She also recorded four steals on the night. It marks the eighth time this season that SFA has had a player record a double-double.
Not to be outdone by Carr, junior Jessica Gaines also recorded an all-around performance in the Ladyjacks' win over Central Arkansas. Gaines scored 16 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded four steals. She also finished the night knocking down four three-pointers.
The Ladyjacks recorded one of their better nights of the season from beyond the three-point arc Thursday night against Central Arkansas. SFA struck for eight threes against the Sugar Bears. The eight threes ties for the second-highest output by the Ladyjacks this season.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday, Feb. 23, when they travel to Huntsville, Texas, to take on rival Sam Houston State. The game against the Bearkats is slated to begin at 3 p.m., from the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
-SFA-
