Stephen F. Austin
McNeese State
Ladyjacks Hammer McNeese State
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2009
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Junior Whitney Cormier scored 19 of her game-high 23 points in the second half as Stephen F. Austin recorded a 67-56 victory at McNeese State Saturday afternoon in the Burton Coliseum. The victory moves SFA to 12-11 on the season, and 7-4 in Southland Conference play.
The Ladyjacks took the early lead in the game building a double-digit advantage in the first half. SFA was able to push that lead to 13 points behind strong first-half play from sophomore Chantol Drennan. The 6-1, sophomore from Bedford, Texas, came off the bench to score 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4f from the free throw line. The Ladyjacks led by 13, with 5:03 remaining in the contest.
McNeese State managed to cut the lead to eight points, and get teh ball back, but the Ladyjacks' defense didn't allow the Cowgirls any extended runs forcing the Cowgirls into 11 first-half turnovers. SFA also took advantage of its free throws in the opening half connecting on 10-of-11 (91 percent) attempts.
The Ladyjacks led by as many as 11 in the second half when the Cowgirls went on a 12-3 run to cut the lead to two points, 50-48, with 8:25 remaining. The Cowgirls had two opportunities to tie the game, but SFA rattled off a run of its own to reclaim advantage of the game. Aided by a technical foul against the Cowgirl bench, SFA went on a 15-3 run to take a 14 point lead, 65-51, with only 3:46 remaining.
After scoring only four points in the opening 20 minutes, Cormier took over in the second half. Cormier, who entered the game averaging just under 17 points over the course of the team's last six games, dropped in 19 in the final stanza to finsh the game with 23.
The Cowgirls never threatened down the stretch as the Ladyjacks held on for the double-digit win. SFA finished the game 21-of-60 (.350), while the Cowgirls were 17-of-53 (.321). The Ladyjacks also managed to prevent the league's second-leading scorer, Shante Perry, from being a factor in the game. Perry finished the day with nine points on 3-of-16 shooting. The Cowgirls were led by Kendra Wells who had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday, Feb. 21, when they travel to Hammond, La., to take on Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lady Lions is slated to begin at 3 p.m. from the University Center.
-SFA-
