Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
Ladyjacks Survive in Overtime, 78-71
1/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Porsha Roberts notched her sixth double-double of the season, Taylor Ross scored a game-high 25 points and the Stephen F. Austin women’s basketball team pulled away from Southeastern Louisiana in overtime for a 78-71 victory on Monday evening in William R. Johnson Coliseum.
Roberts, who has had a great amount of success against the Lady Lions (4-8, 0-1 SLC) in her career, posted 24 points while making 7 of 10 shots from the field. She also converted 10 of 11 free throw attempts, grabbed 10 rebounds and tallied three steals on the night.
In five games against SLU in her career, Roberts averages 21.4 points and has made 40 of 46 field goal attempts (87.0 percent).
Ross went 10-for-16 from the floor and 4-for-5 at the line to put up the second most points in her SFA career. She found her teammates well all night, dishing out six assists to lead all players.
Roberts and Ross split the scoring duties over the first 2:14 to help the Ladyjacks (8-5, 1-1 SLC) jump out to a 9-3 lead. The six-point margin quickly slipped away, however, as the Lady Lions mounted a 14-4 run to take the lead 17-13 with 12:45 to go in the frame. The lead changed eight times in the half overall, with the Ladyjacks taking a 30-26 advantage into the locker room.
SFA held onto the lead until SLU’s Nanna Pool hit a jumper with 10:24 remaining in the game to give the Lady Lions a 50-48 edge. SFA regained control, 62-60, on a Ross jumper in the lane with 2:38 to play. After SLU hit a three with 51 seconds on the clock, Roberts knocked down one of two free throws on the other end to tie the game at 63-63. A big defensive stand by the Ladyjacks kept the score even through regulation.
In overtime, Ross made a couple big buckets and SFA created separation early on to secure its first conference win of the season.
The Ladyjacks outscored the Lady Lions 46-24 in the paint and went 22-for-26 at the line, compared to a 9-for-17 night by SLU.
Senior forward Tierany Henderson was a strong presence on the glass, leading SFA with 11 rebounds while also chipping in six points. Sophomore Brentney Branch added seven points off the bench.
With the win, SFA improves to 33-5 all-time against SLU and has now won 13 straight in the series dating back to the 2004-05 season.
The Ladyjacks next travel to Conway, Ark. where they will face Central Arkansas on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.
-SFA-
