Stephen F. Austin
McNeese State
Ladyjacks Hold On Late to Defeat McNeese State
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 31, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team got 14 points from junior Whitney Cormier and sophomore Decreasha Goodner to defeat McNeese State, 55-50, Saturday afternoon at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are now 9-10 on the season, and 4-3 in Southland Conference play.
Despite shooting only 31 percent for the game, which included a 1-of-10 performance from beyond the arc, SFA was able to record a five-point victory. Throw into the equation that SFA also played the game without the services of leading scorer Tammara Marion, it really had to lean on its defense, and the "D" came through. SFA forced the Cowgirls into 14 first-half turnovers which SFA converted into 12 points. It was that defense that allowed SFA to take a two-point advantage into the locker room.
McNeese State shot 8-of-20 (.400) from the floor in the first half, and out-rebounded SFA, 18-13, but only took two three-pointers. The Cowgirls entered the game shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc, but didn't look for the long-range shot until the second half.
The Cowgirls came out of the locker room with the momentum, building their largest lead of the game, 34-28, with 15:45 remaining. With the McNeese State on the verge of taking control of the game, SFA put a stop to the rally by rattling off a 14-3 run to reclaim the advantage. SFA reclaimed a five-point lead, 42-37, with 4:11 remaining.
The Ladyjacks were able to push their lead to as many as nine points late in the contest, and it came down to SFA hitting its free throws. In a complete role-reversal from the game Wednesday night in Natchitoches, La., the Ladyjacks went 10-of-12 from the stripe to put the game on ice.
Freshman Schera Sampson came off the bench to score eight points, and pull down four rebounds. Cormier finished the game with a team-high 12 rebounds. Senior Natashia Green struggled going 0-for-12 from the floor, but was huge on the glass pulling down six rebounds.
The Ladyjacks return to action Wednesday when they host Nicholls. The game against the Colonels is slated to begin at 7 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum, and will also be the Ladyjacks' annual Academic Shootout.
-SFA-
