Stephen F. Austin
Prairie View A&M
SFA Puts Together Complete Team Win
11/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Taylor Ross put up big numbers for the second straight game, Tierany Henderson and Porsha Roberts each recorded double-doubles and the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team took care of Prairie View A&M 83-73 on Tuesday night in William R. Johnson Coliseum.
“I was really happy how we finished the game tonight,” said head coach Brandon Schneider. “We did a lot of things much better tonight than we did in the opener. The other team was very athletic, especially Jeanette Jackson. We tried to slow her up as much as possible.
“I’m proud of the fact that we only gave up 12 offensive rebounds and were able to outrebound them by 13. We talk a lot about the rebounding battle, the free throw battle and the turnover battle. We feel like if we can win those battles we have a really valid chance to come out on top. Tonight we struggled with turnovers – we had far too many – but we did make more free throws and did outrebound them.”
Ross netted 24 points on 8-for-15 shooting and went 7-for-8 from the foul line to lead the offensive attack. The sophomore, who notched a career-high 26 points on Saturday night against LA Tech, also dished out four assists and grabbed three steals in the game.
“I’ve been a little more aggressive this year,” Ross said after the game. “I think I’m better at finishing around the rim too. I’ve worked on taking easier shots as opposed to some crazier shots I’ve taken in the past. I’m really working on that part of my game.”
Roberts and Henderson also had big nights on both sides of the ball. Roberts put up 11 points and 10 rebounds while Henderson tallied 13 points and brought down 11 boards. The seniors, who are both in the top ten all-time at SFA in career blocks, combined for seven rejections on the evening. Prairie View A&M (0-2) had three total blocks as a team.
Sophomore Brentney Branch also had a nice night for the Ladyjacks (1-1), contributing 13 points off the bench on 5-for-8 shooting. Branch and Henderson each drilled three three-pointers in the contest.
SFA took the lead 5-2 on a three-point play by Ross early in the first half and never trailed the rest of the way. The Lady Panthers hung within single digits for the duration of the first half and tied the game at 37-37 with 1:59 to play. From there, the Ladyjacks mounted a 10-1 run to close the opening frame, capped by a Henderson three with six seconds left, and went into the locker room up 47-38.
The veteran laden SFA squad kept PVAMU at arms length the entire second half and built its lead to as many as 14 points en route to the 83-73 victory.
Prairie View A&M was an NCAA tournament team last year, falling to UConn in the first round.
Up next, the Ladyjacks will host Louisiana-Monroe on Friday, Nov. 21 before turning around to face St. Edwards on Tuesday, Nov. 25 in William R. Johnson Coliseum. After the four game home stand, SFA will fly to Albuquerque, N.M. for the University of New Mexico Thanksgiving Classic from Nov. 28-29.
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