Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
Ladyjacks Hammer UCA
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 4, 2009
CONWAY, Ark. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks used a late first-half run to pull away from Central Arkansas and coast to a 78-46 victory Wednesday evening in Conway, Ark. The Ladyjacks improve 15-12 on the season, and 10-5 in conference play.
"I was proud of how we started the game," said head coach Lee Ann Riley. "We came out with a lot of intensity. I thought we hit some lulls, but we were able to battle our way through them. Our bench was a key in this game. They scored 37 points tonight, and that is going to be important as we head into the Southland Conference tournament."
The first half was a game of runs as the Ladyjacks jumped out a 7-0 lead, only to have UCA go on a 10-4 run to cut that lead down to a single point. The Ladyjacks were able to push that lead back to nine points behind consecutive three-pointers from freshman Tammara Marion. The Ladyjacks closed the half on a run to take an 18-point lead, 40-22, into the locker room.
The Ladyjacks were 14-of-31 (.452) from the floor in the opening half, while UCA was held to a 7-of-28 (.250) performance. The Ladyjacks did a good job of hanging onto the basketball committing only six first-half turnovers. SFA forced its hosts into 10 turnovers, and converted the miscues into 13 points. The Ladyjacks also got 17 points from its bench in the opening 20 minutes.
The Ladyjacks pushed their lead to 26 early in the second half, and never looked back. SFA shot 27-of-61 (.443) from the floor while holding the Sugar Bears to a 29.6-percent clip. The Ladyjacks also out-rebounded UCA, 43-38.
The Ladyjacks had four players in double figures led by junior Whitney Cormier who finished the night with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Jordan Ford and freshman Schera Sampson each added 12, while sophomore Ebony Alexander scored 11.
The Ladyjacks return to action Saturday to close out the 2008-09 regular-season slate against Texas-San Antonio. The game is slated to tip off at 6 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks will honor their 2009 senior class prior to the start of the game.
-SFA-
