Lamar Rallies to Defeat SFA
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2009
BEAUMONT, Texas - Despite jumping out to a 10-0 lead the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks were unable to hold on as Lamar rallied for a 71-52 victory Saturday afternoon in Beaumont, Texas. The loss drops SFA to 10-11 on the season, and 5-4 in conference play, while the Lady Cardinals jump a game ahead of SFA in the conference standings.
The Ladyjacks jumped out to a 10-0 lead burying 7-of-their-first-8 shots, and 10-of-13, while Lamar was mired in an 0-for-8 slump to start the game. Junior Jordan Ford sparked the SFA run with her eight first-half points. Ford finished the game with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
Lamar battled its way back into the game prior to halftime. LU went on a 12-2 run, led by Darika Hill's 12-first half points to cut the SFA lead to three, 25-22. Lamar took its first lead of the game only a few moments later when senior Nikki Williams buried a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining in the half. The Lady Cardinals took a three-point lead into the intermission, 28-25, after closing the half on an 18-5 run.
SFA was 10-of-26 (.385) from the floor, in the opening half, while Lamar finished 11-for-their-final-18 and went into the locker room shooting 39 percent. The Ladyjacks closed out the half missing its final 13 shots heading into halftime. Turnovers also played a big part in the LU rally. SFA turned the ball over 10 times, which the Lady Cardinals converted into eight points, while Lamar was forced into only five first-half turnovers. SFA out-rebounded Lamar, 22-13, in the opening 20 minutes.
The Ladyjacks responded to the rally in the second half by reclaiming the lead and pushing it to as many as six points. The game would remain close for the next 11:45. With the score tied at 47, the Lady Cardinals rattled off 10 unanswered points to build a 57-47 lead with only 3:49 remaining. The Ladyjacks were unable to get any closer as Lamar hit its free throws down the stretch.
SFA shot 33 percent, while Lamar finished the game 25-of-55 (.455) from the floor. The Ladyjacks won the battle on the glass, 42-37, but forced Lamar into only 10 turnovers.
Ford pulled down six rebounds to go along with her 14 points, while junior Whitney Cormier finished the game with 13 points. Senior Natashia Green chipped in eight points, while freshman Amina Sawyer scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Ebony Alexander scored four points and dished out 10 assists. Lamar finished the game with five players in double figures led by Darika Hill's 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The Ladyjacks return to action Wednesday when they will host Northwestern State. The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum, and will also be the Ladyjacks' Pink Zone game. All fans wearing pink will receive free admission to the game.
-SFA-
