Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Ladyjacks Hold Off Southeastern Louisiana
1/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Junior Whitney Cormier scored 17 points to lead the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks to a thrilling 69-66 victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks improve 8-9 on the season and stay only a half game back of Northwestern State for the Southland Conference East lead at 2-2.
The Ladyjacks jumped out of the gates quickly hitting their first four shots to build an 8-0 advantage, but Ladyjack fans were not allowed to sit back and get comfortable. The Lady Lions immediately clawed their way back into the contest behind a barrage of three-pointers led by Chelsea Hix and Quantae Thomas who each buried three in the opening half.
After falling behind eight to start the game, SLU rattled off a 12-2 run to claim their first lead of the game, 12-10, with just over 13 minutes remaining in the half. The game would remain close for the rest of the half as lead changed hands 10 times, along with seven ties. The Ladyjacks closed the half scoring the final three point to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
SFA maintained a 10-point advantage in points in the paint at halftime, and out-rebounded its opponent by five, 19-14. Southeastern Louisiana hung close due their ability to score from beyond the arc. The Lady Lions knocked down 7-of-16 (.438) three-pointers in the first half, but SFA countered by going nearly perfect at the free throw line, 9-of-10.
The second half was almost a mirror image of the first. The Ladyjacks stormed out to an 11-point lead, and right when the game looked like it was on the brink of being a blowout SLU battled right back. The Lady Lions once again used the three to get back into the contest as Kristy Carlin and Charinee Mitchell each hit a triple to cut the lead to two points, 65-63.
But Cormier and company wouldn't allow the Lions to get any closer. Cormier got fouled driving to the bucket and hit 1-of-2. SFA got the ball back off the miss and Cormier again attacked the glass driving to the bucket for an uncontested layup. Cormier finished the game scoring the team's final four points to ice the victory.
Sophomore Jordan Ford scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds, while senior Natashia Green came off the bench to chip in eight. Freshman Tamara Marion had another solid night scoring six points and pulling down six rebounds.
The Lady Lions were led by Carlin who scored 19 points. Hix added 15 points on 5-of-10 (.500) shooting from beyond the arc.
The Ladyjacks return to action Wednesday, Jan. 28, when they travel to Natchitoches, La., to take on Northwestern State. The game against the Lady Demons is slated to tipoff at 7 p.m. from Prather Coliseum.
-SFA-
