Ladyjacks Close Out Regular Season Against UTSA
3/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team (15-12/10-5 SLC) enters Saturday's contest against Texas-San Antonio looking to lock down the No. 3 seed in the Southland Conference Championships. The Ladyjacks enter the regular-season finale riding a two-game win streak. The Roadrunners will close out their regular-season in Nacogdoches for a second consecutive year. The 'Runners (20-8/13-2 SLC) are trying to win at least a share of the conference title Saturday night. UTSA heads to Nacogdoches riding a five-game winning streak. At halftime of the game, Ladyjacks fans will be entertained by the Semcycle duo. Semcycle has traveled around to different venues at the collegiate and professional level doing tricks on unicycles. The game against the Roadrunners is slated to begin at 6 p.m. from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.
Coaches: Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley is 131-103 (.560) in her eighth season in Nacogdoches. She is 262-161 (.619) in 13 seasons as a head coach. Texas-San Antonio head coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair is 156-108 (.591) in her ninth season in San Antonio. She is 263-152 (.634) in 13 seasons as a head coach.
SFA vs. the Roadrunners: The Ladyjacks are 31-7 (.816) all-time against Texas-San Antonio, but the 'Runners have found success in the series lately. UTSA has won five of the last eight meetings, but the Ladyjacks ended a three-game skid last season with a three-point victory, 57-54, over the Roadrunners in Nacogdoches.
SLC Tournament Scenarios: The Ladyjacks enter Saturday's contest in a two-way tie for third in the league with Southeastern Louisiana. The Ladyjacks have the tie-break on the Lady Lions, and can lock up the three seed with a win Saturday. Following is a list of other possible scenarios that could exist. If SFA loses Saturday, and Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana win, SFA will be the four seed. If SFA loses Saturday, and Lamar and Northwestern State win, we will be the four seed. If SFA loses, and Lamar and Northwestern State lose, but Southeastern Louisiana wins, SFA would be the four seed. If we lose, Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana lose, but Northwestern State wins, we are the three seed.
Demolition Crew: The Ladyjacks have cranked it up a notch as they head into the final stretch of the season. SFA has recorded back-to-back blowouts defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas by averaging of 32.5 points per game. The Ladyjacks had scored at least 70 points in a game four times on the season, and they reached that plateau in each of the past two games. During that stretch the Ladyjacks are averaging 82.5 points per game, while shooting 45 percent from the floor, and 41 percent from beyond the arc. SFA is only surrendering 50 points per contests, while forcing their opponents into an average of 30 turnovers per game during the last two contests.
Sampson Stepping Up: Freshman Schera Sampson has also become another offensive weapon for the Ladyjacks in the last two games. She is averaging 14.0 points during that stretch, including a career-high 16 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
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