Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Ladyjacks Smother Islanders, 64-55
1/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team forced a season-high 27 turnovers and got double digit scoring efforts from three players to come away with a 64-55 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday afternoon inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The win is the ninth straight for the Ladyjacks at home and the 15th straight over the Islanders in the all-time series dating back to the 2004-05 season.
Taylor Ross led the defensive effort for the Ladyjacks (13-6, 6-2 SLC), tying a career-high with seven steals and rejecting two shots. Brittney Matthew also helped apply the pressure with five steals in 28 minutes. The Islanders (10-10, 6-3 SLC) shot 20 fewer shots than the Ladyjacks in the game due in large part to the swarming SFA defense.
Ross also had a big night offensively, leading SFA with 19 points on 5-for-12 shooting. She knocked down 8 of 11 shots from the free throw line on the afternoon. Porsha Roberts and Tierany Henderson also reached double figures with 12 points apiece. Henderson drilled three triples on seven looks from deep and Roberts went 5-for-10 from the field.
Against one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, SFA played AMCC even on the glass as each team grabbed 34 boards. Roberts came one rebound shy of a double-double with nine while freshman Charisma Alexander collected a season-high eight rebounds, including four off the offensive glass.
In a low scoring start to Saturday's contest, Corpus Christi held a 17-13 edge with 7:06 to play in the opening period. Ross would help spark a big SFA run to end the half, however, converting a three-point play and hitting three more consecutive free throws to give the Ladyjacks a 19-17 lead. SFA went on a 17-2 run to end the frame overall and took a 30-19 advantage with them into the locker room. Ross had 10 points alone in the seven minute span.
The Islanders wouldn't come closer than eight points the rest of the way as the Ladyjacks cruised to the 64-55 victory, leading by as many as 18 in the final 20 minutes.
Matthew and Henderson led SFA with four assists in the game and Matthew chipped in eight points to complement the offensive effort. Paulletta Powell ended the day with five points while Alexander and Adrienne Lewis each contributed four.
The Ladyjacks will next hit the road to Natchitoches, La. on Thursday, Feb. 5 to face Northwestern State. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.
-SFA-
.@SFACoachBrandon on the win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi. #AxeEm http://t.co/CEJ69qQt78
— SFA All Access (@SFA_AllAccess) January 31, 2015
