Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Ladyjacks Bounced from SLC Tournament
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 12, 2009
KATY, Texas - Sophomore Ebony Alexander scored a team-high 15 points, all coming in the final 4:30 of the contest, but it wasn't enough to overcome Lamar Wednesday evening in the opening round of the 2009 State Farm Southland Conference Championhips. Lamar recorded a 76-64 victory over the Ladyjacks to advance to the SLC semifinals Friday afternoon. The Ladyjacks end the season at 15-14 overall.
The Ladyjacks and Lady Cardinals made history Wednesday evening before they even stepped on the court, because it marked the first time in SLC tournament history that the same two teams have opened tournament play in four consecutive seasons. In a start that was eerily similar to the 2008 SLC tournament game, the Ladyjacks struggled in the opening half shooting only 31 percent. Lamar took advantage of the Ladyjacks' struggles going 14-of-29 (.483) from the floor and building an eight-point lead heading into half time.
Lamar appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open early in the second half building a 19-point lead behind point guard Nikki Williams' game-high 21 points, but the Ladyjacks responded by knocking down consecutive layups to cut the lead to 13, 50-37, with just over 10 minutes remaining.
The Ladyjacks then picked up the intensity on defense holding Lamar scoreless over the next 6:32 of the game. Unfortunately, SFA was unable to take advantage of the LU dry spell, because the Ladyjacks would be unable to score another point over the next 4:08 of the contest. Freshman Tammara Marion broke the SFA dry spell with a three-pointer at the 5:59 mark to cut the lead back to 16 points. Marion finished the game with 13 points.
The Lady Cardinals pushed the lead to 20 just over a minute later, which once again appeared to be the end of the night for the Ladyjacks. But that only set the stage for one of the most impressive come backs of the season. Led by Alexander's aerial assault, along with some help from Marion, the Ladyjacks quickly reduced a 20-deficit down to seven by knocking down 5-of-7 three-pointers over a 3:46 time span, but the Ladyjacks were able to get no closer, due in large part to Lamar success at the free throw line. The Lady Cardinals closed out the game knocking down 13-of-14 attempts from the free throw line.
Along with Alexander and Marion's double-figure performance, sophomore Jordan Ford added 10 points and nine rebounds. First-team All-SLC selection Whitney Cormier finished the game with eight points and four rebounds. It was only the second time in the team's last 14 games that Cormier did not reach double figures. Lone senior Jessica Gaines finishes her final night in a Ladyjack uniform with three points and one rebound. Gaines' lone bucket, a three-pointer, was the 55th of her career placing Gaines in a two-way tie for 11th all-time in school history.
SFA finished the game shooting 35 percent from the floor, including a 9-of-28 (32 percent) performance from beyond the arc. The Ladyjacks also out-rebounded Lamar, 45-40, but were hurt by turnovers. SFA turned the ball over 18 times with Lamar converting the mistakes into 21 points.
The Lady Cardinals finished the night going 23-of-57 (.404) from the floor. Lamar also connected on 8-of-17 (47 percent) three pointers.
-SFA-
