Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Ladyjacks Hold Off Late SLU Rally
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
HAMMOND, La. - Junior Whitney Cormier buried a three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining to give Stephen F. Austin a four-point lead, and eventually the victory over Southeastern Louisiana. The Ladyjacks watched an 18-point second half lead get trimmed to one, but held on for a 63-58 victory over SLU in Hammond, La., Saturday afternoon.
The Ladyjacks jumped to an 11-point lead, 14-3, after knocking down their first six field goal attempts. While SFA started quickly the Ladyjacks missed 6-of-their-first-seven attempts. The Ladyjacks pushed their advantage to as many as 16 points in the opening half.
SFA connected on 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) in the first half, while holding the Lady Lions to only seven field goals. Southeastern Louisiana shot 21 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, and connected on only one three-pointer, 1-of-12. SFA took a 13-point lead into the locker room.
SFA hit 3-of-its-first-5 to build an 18-point second-half lead, 42-24, with 14:40 remaining. The Ladyjacks appeared to cruising to an easy victory, but the Lady Lions mounted a huge rally late in the game. SLU rattled off a 14-2 in the final 6:30 minutes to cut the lead to one, 58-57, with only 45 seconds remaining, but that's when the Cormier stepped up to play the role of hero.
Cormier buried the three, and also tacked on two free throws for the final score. Cormier finished the game with 18 points, while freshman Tammara Marion added 12 points. Sophomore Jordan Ford knocked down her first three attempts of the season, and finished the game with 10 points. Kristy Carlin led SLU with 15 points.
The Ladyjacks finished the game 23-of-53 (43.4 percent) from the floor, while the Lady Lions were 20-of-65 (30.8 percent). SLU out-rebounded the Ladyjacks, 47-44.
The Ladyjacks return to action Wednesday when they travel to San Marcos, Texas, to take on Texas State. The game against the Bobcats is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Strahan Coliseum.
-SFA-
