Year of the 'Jacks - February
7/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
2014-15 proved to be arguably the most memorable year in the history of Stephen F. Austin Athletics. Nine regular season conference titles, three NCAA postseason appearances, seven Coach of the Year honors, seven All-Americans, 23 Southland Conference major award winners, a national runner-up showing and the program's first Division I national champion. Over the next few weeks, SFAJacks.com looks back at the highlights of SFA's historic 2014-15 season, a season which came to be known as the "Year of the `Jacks."
FEBRUARY
Records: Men's Basketball (6-1); Women's Basketball (8-0); Tennis (3-2); Softball (6-9); Baseball (4-8)
Nights of #PurpleLights: 16
Feb. 6 – SB – Extra-Inning Homer Lifts SFA in Season Opener
The Ladyjacks began the 2015 season with a bang as sophomore Brittany Lewis launched a three-run home run in the eighth inning and tossed six hitless frames to lead SFA to a 6-3 victory over SLC foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the season opener at the Getterman Classic hosted by No. 10 Baylor.
Feb. 8 – T&F – Payne Prevails in National Pole Vault Battle
In one of the most anticipated women’s pole vaulting showdowns in recent NCAA history, SFA’s Demi Payne outlasted two previous collegiate record holders (Sandi Morris - Arkansas, Kaitlin Petrillose – Texas) and a strong 41–woman field to win her fourth straight individual title at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Payne, who broke the indoor collegiate record in January, won the event with a 15–3.5 (4.66m) vault.
Feb. 9 – MBB – Walkup Repeats As SLC Player of the Week
Thomas Walkup had another solid week, leading SFA to victories over A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist en route to his second SLC Player of the Week honor. Walkup notched a career-best 34 points in the victory over HBU, hitting 13 of his 15 shots from the floor and was 8-of-10 from the free throw line, while contributing seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Feb. 9 – MBB – ‘Jacks Take Down Demons in Border Rivalry
Behind a career-best 19 points from Ty Charles, SFA toppled rival Northwestern State 93-82 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Four Lumberjacks finished in double figures, including 16 each from Thomas Walkup and Jacob Parker, as SFA pulled away late to topple the Demons.
Feb. 9, 11 – SOC – Ladyjack Trio Signs Professional Deal To Play In Iceland
Women’s soccer standouts Megan Dunnigan, Morgan Glick and Chelsea Raymond became the first professional soccer players in program history when they signed pro contracts to continue their careers in Iceland. Dunnigan and Glick each inked deals with IA Akranes FC while Raymond signed with KR – Reykjavik FC. 
Feb. 13 – BB – ‘Jacks Roar Past Washington State in Season Opener
Stephen F. Austin notched a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, then relied on the arm of starter Cameron Gann as the Lumberjacks defeated Washington State 4-1 in the 2015 season opener at Jaycees Field. Nick Ramos recorded a pair of RBI on the night, including the first of the year off an RBI triple in the first inning.
Feb. 14 – SB – SFA Rallies Late to Upend McNeese State in Extra Innings
The Ladyjacks rallied from three runs down to beat Southland Conference favorite McNeese State in extra innings on the second day of the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational. Trailing 5-2 to the Cowgirls, the Ladyjacks scored four runs in the top half of the seventh to go ahead 6-5. SFA would draw three consecutive walks in the eighth to help Taylor LeFlore score what proved to be the winning run in a 7-6 victory.
Feb. 15 – BOWL – Ladyjacks Finish Fourth at Host Event
SFA hosted the first multi-team event in program history, putting on the Stormin’ Ladyjack Classic in Houston. Competing against 16 other teams, SFA sat second heading into the final day of competition before placing fourth at its host tournament.
Feb. 15 – TEN – SFA Defeats ULM For Third-Straight Win
SFA notched its third-straight victory with a grueling 4-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe at the Schlief Tennis Center. The Ladyjacks captured the doubles point and the first two singles points, then Malena Gordo clinched the match with a win at the No. 2 position after the Warhawks rallied to win three-straight to tie the match at 3-3.
Feb. 16 – WBB – Roberts Tabbed SLC Player of the Week after 32-Point Outburst
Porsha Roberts had two huge performances on Feb. 12 and 14, helping the Ladyjacks earn quality road wins at Incarnate Word and at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The senior poured in 32 points against the Islanders to tie a career-high at the time and notched 20 points in a 64-47 victory over the Cardinals. She averaged 26.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the field during the week. 
Feb. 17 – T&F – SFA Sweeps Team Titles at SLC Championships
The SFA track and field teams returned to the top of the Southland Conference as both teams won titles at the 2015 SLC Indoor Championships to cap a tremendous indoor season. The women scored 132.5 points and the men earned 117 points to bring home their first team trophies since the 2013 season.
Feb. 22 – FB – Johnson Catches Attention at 2015 NFL Combine
SFA All-American Gus Johnson caught the attention of NFL scouts at the 2015 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Johnson finished among the top-10 of all combine running backs in four different events, including tying for second with 26 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.
Feb. 22 – BB – SFA Rallies Past Warhawks in Monroe
Trailing 5-2 after five innings, Stephen F. Austin scored six runs over the final four innings, then shut the door on a late Louisiana-Monroe rally to defeat the Warhawks 8-7 at Warhawk Field. A three-run eighth gave the ‘Jacks the 8-5 lead, then SFA withstood a late Warhawk rally to notch its first road win of the season.
Feb. 25 – WGLF – Lautensack Earns SLC Golfer of the Month Honors
Erica Lautensack continued her impressive freshman campaign, tying for the individual tournament title at the A&M-Corpus Christi Islander Classic for her second individual title. The effort earned Lautensack SLC Golfer of the Month honors, becoming the first golfer in program history to earn the accolade.
Feb. 25 – T&F – Olson and Payne Earn Prestigious SLC Honors
SFA’s Demi Payne was named the 2015 Southland Conference Outstanding Field Performer and head coach Phil Olson was tabbed SLC Coach of the Year for both the men and women with the release of the indoor conference awards in late February. Payne capped one of the best indoor seasons in collegiate history with an SLC individual title and meet record while Olson picked up the 18th and 19th coach of the year awards in his 16-year SFA career. 
Feb. 28 – WBB – SFA Clinches Share of 17th SLC Title
For the second season in a row and the 17th time in program history, the SFA women’s basketball team won the Southland Conference regular season title – a feat which was secured by a 69-57 win over Houston Baptist on Feb. 28. The win in Houston clinched the number one seed in the 2015 SLC Tournament for the Ladyjacks as they moved to 14-2 in league play with two games remaining.
Feb. 28 – MBB – ‘Jacks Close Out February With Rout of Huskies
Stephen F. Austin closed out the month of February with another strong offensive performance, defeating Houston Baptist 102-87 in Houston. Jacob Parker finished with 30 points, including 26 in the second half, as SFA pulled back into a tie for first place in the SLC standings heading into the regular season’s final week.
Feb. 28 – BB – SFA Takes Two From South Dakota State for First Series Win
Stephen F. Austin took two of three from visiting South Dakota State at Jaycees Field, giving the Lumberjacks their first series win of 2015. Cameron Gann and the ‘Jacks outlasted the Jackrabbits for a 1-0 win on Friday, then held on for an 8-7 win in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader to clinch the series victory.
"Year of the `Jacks" By The Numbers
Regular Season Conference Titles: 9
Total Number of Conference Titles: 10
NCAA Postseason Appearances: 4
All-Americans: 7
National/USA Champions: 2
SLC Major Award Winners: 23
SLC Players of the Year: 6
SLC/National Coaches of the Year: 7
First team All-SLC selections: 43
Total All-SLC selections: 105
Capital One Academic All-District selections: 11
Capital One Academic All-Americans: 2
SLC Student-Athletes of the Year: 3
SLC All-Academic Team selections: 24
"Year of the `Jacks" Release Schedule
August/September: Friday, June 19
October: Friday, June 26
November: Friday, July 3
December: Friday, July 10
January: Friday, July 17
February: Friday, July 24
March: Friday, July 31
April: Friday, August 7
May/June: Friday, August 14
-SFA-
