Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls
SFA Survives Scare
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks got 20 points and nine rebounds from junior Whitney Cormier as SFA held on to beat Nicholls, 60-55, Wednesday evening in the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are 10-10 on the season, and 5-3 in Southland Conference play.
The Colonels, showing no shades of the team that got beat by 36 points in Thibodaux, La., earlier this season, jumped out of the gate knocking down 4-of-their-first-5 jumpers to take an early two-point advantage. Nicholls was able to push its advantage to as many as seven points, 22-15, before SFA settled down.
The Ladyjacks' defense finally began to have an effect on Nicholls forcing the Colonels into 17 first half turnovers. SFA utilized the opportunities to retake the lead 31-30, with 2:15 remaining in the half. The Colonels scored the final four points in the half to take a four-point lead into the locker room.
The Colonels recorded one their better shooting halves of the season going 16-for-27 (.593), and out-rebounded SFA by three in the opening 20 minutes. Despite its struggles, SFA still managed a 42-perent clip in the first half behind Cormier's 12 first-half points.
The game remained close for the first 16:34 of the second half, until sophomore Ebony Alexander drilled a three from the left corner to give SFA a four-point advantage. The Ladyjacks would tack on a bucket by Cormier and sophomore Jordan Ford to take its biggest lead of the game, 56-48, with only 1:19 to play. The Ladyjacks iced the game at the free throw line hitting their final four attempts for the victory. Nicholls' Christie Bryant hit a three at the buzzer for the final score.
Both teams cooled off in the second half shooting below 30 percent. SFA finished the game 21-of-58 (.362), while the Colonels were 24-of-55 (.436). SFA out-rebounded Nicholls by four, 39-35, and forced the Colonels into 29 turnovers.
Sophomore Toni Davis joined Cormier in double figures with 14 points, and six rebounds. Ford and Alexander each chipped in nine. The Colonels finished the game with three players in double figures, led by Bryant's 16 points, but she also turned the ball over 12 times.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday, when they travel to Beaumont, Texas, to take on Lamar. The game is slated to begin at 2 p.m., from the Montagne Center.
-SFA-
