SFA Travels to Texas State
2/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks will look to put the finishing touches on a three-game road swing that has seen SFA (13-11/8-4) win the first two games, and lay claim to first in the Southland Conference East Division. The Ladyjacks enter Wednesday's game against Texas State a game ahead of Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana in the East division, and in fourth place overall. The Ladyjacks close out the three-game swing in San Marcos, Texas, Wednesday evening against Texas State (11-13/5-7 SLC). The Bobcats, winners of three of their last four, are currently tied for four in the SLC West. The game against the Bobcats is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Strahan Coliseum.
SFA vs. the Bobcats: The Ladyjacks are 48-8 (.857) all-time against Texas State. The Ladyjacks had a six-game win streak snapped last season against the defending SLC Champions. The Bobcats swept the 2007-08 season series against the Ladyjacks, including a 76-75 setback in San Marcos.
Home Sweet Home: The Ladyjacks are one of the nation's all-time winningest teams at home, with a 370-96 (.794) all-time record. SFA has won 39 of its last 50 games in the Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are 8-2 (.800) in the William R. Johnson Coliseum this year.
Win Streak: Saturday's victory at Southeastern Louisiana was the team's third consecutive win. The modest win streak is the team's longest of the year. The Ladyjacks appear to be getting hot at the right time of the season having won 5-of-6, and 6-of-their-last-8 games.
Scenario's: The Ladyjacks need only one more win, or a Sam Houston State loss to lock up a berth in the 2009 State Farm Southland Conference Championship Tournament. The Ladyjacks currently sit atop the SLC East Division standings with an 8-4 record, and are fourth overall in the conference. The Ladyjacks still have an outside shot at winning the SLC regular-season title but they are going to need some help. SFA will need to win out, and have Texas-San Antonio, and Texas-Arlington lose three of their four remaining games, while Lamar will need to lose two of its remaining four games. For SFA to move into the No. 2 overall seed it will need to win out and have either UTSA or UTA lose three of its final four, and Lamar to lose at least two of its remaining games. For the Ladyjacks to jump Lamar, SFA will need to win out, and have the Lady Cardinals lose at least two of its remaining games.
Making a Late Surge: Junior Whitney Cormier is making a late push for SLC Player of the Year honors. After a slow start to her junior campaign, Cormier is currently second in the league in scoring (16.3 ppg) and 15th in rebounding (6.5 rpg) during league games. She scored a game-high 18 points at Southeastern Louisiana, and has scoring in double figures in the team's last eight games. She is averaging 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds during that stretch.
Making History: Senior Jessica Gaines is attempting to close out her SFA career by leaving her mark of the Ladyjack record books. Gaines needs only three more triples to move to 11th on the school's all-time list. She currently has hit 52 career three-pointers.
The Great Wall: Freshman Schera Sampson is currently sixth in the league averaging 1.3 blocks per game during league games. Classmate Amina Sawyer is seventh in the SLC in blocks (1.0 bpg)over the course of the season.
Best Month of the Year: The Ladyjacks are out to their best month of the season with a 4-1 (.800) record in February.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders enter the week 10-15 (.400) overall, and tied with the Bobcats at 5-7 (.417) in league play. The game against Islanders is slated for a 6 p.m. start from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
