SFA Begins Three-Game Homestand Saturday Against Abilene Christian
1/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin (7-8, 1-3 SLC) vs. Abilene Christian (13-2, 4-0 SLC)
Saturday, January 16 • 4:00 p.m.
William R. Johnson Coliseum • Nacogdoches, Texas
Watch Live (ESPN3) • Live Stats
In-Game Twitter Updates: @SFA_WBB
Complete Game Notes 
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team begins a three-game homestand on Saturday against Abilene Christian inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The home stretch comes at a much-needed time for the Ladyjacks, who have lost three straight games in Southland Conference play. First tip on Saturday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. against the first place Wildcats. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
STORYLINES
• The Ladyjacks have lost three straight games in heartbreaking fashion over the last two weeks. All three defeats have come by single digits with the last two ending in game-winning shots for SFA's opponents in the final seconds. Last Thursday night at home, Central Arkansas banked in a shot with under five seconds to play to take the lead and the game, 55-53. This past Thursday in New Orleans, the Ladyjacks watched the Privateers hit a desperation three-pointer with less than a second to go to win 58-57. Six of SFA's last seven losses have been decided by 10 points or less.
• Senior guard Taylor Schippers boasts the best assist/turnover ratio during conference play as she has not committed a single turnover over the first two weeks of action while handing out 14 assists. Her ratio of 2.21 overall for the season ranks 40th in the country and second in the league.
• Junior shooting guard Brentney Branch has made a three-pointer in all 14 games she has played in this season. She splashed in two threes on Thursday night at New Orleans to extend the streak. A native of Houston, Branch's .402 three-point field goal percentage is the third-best in the SLC and ranks 48th nationally this year.
• SFA has struggled a bit offensively as of late, failing to score more than 57 points in its last three games. The Ladyjacks are just 1-8 when they score fewer than 64 points this year compared to a 6-0 mark when they tally 65 or more. SFA averages 65.4 points per game through 15 contests.
• Taylor Ross has established herself as one of the best scoring threats in the Southland Conference during her three-year career. She currently leads the Ladyjacks offensively with an average of 14.9 points per game. To begin the season, Ross scored in double figures in seven straight games and has done so a total of 10 times in 13 games overall. When she scores 20 or more points, SFA is a perfect 4-0. On the other hand, when she scores 12 or fewer, the Ladyjacks are just 1-5.
• SFA is a perfect 5-0 all-time against Abilene Christian since the series started back in the 1972-73 season. The first three games in the set were played in the 70's and it wasn't resumed until the Wildcats joined the SLC in 2013-14. Last season, the Ladyjacks outlasted ACU 71-69 in an overtime thriller in Abilene on Jan. 17. Porsha Roberts scored 25 points on 10-for-11 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds while Taylor Ross added 18 points and recorded seven steals.
• Picked to finish ninth in both preseason conference polls, Abilene Christian is the only undefeated team remaining in the league at 4-0 and owns a 13-2 mark overall for the year. The Wildcats have already beaten Central Arkansas, Northwestern State, Nicholls and McNeese in SLC play and have won nine straight dating back to Dec. 4. Their only two losses on the season have come at the hands of Kansas State (76-45) and Texas Tech (71-65).
• ACU has had the same five starters for all 15 games in 2015-16, with all five averaging at least 9.1 points per contest. Alexis Mason leads the way with 15.7 ppg, followed by Sydney Shelstead (14.4 ppg/7.9 rpg), Whitney West (10.9 ppg), Lizzy Dimba (9.5 ppg/7.7 rpg) and Suzzy Dimba (9.1 ppg/7.4 rpg).
• Following Saturday's game, the Ladyjacks will play two more games at home next Thursday and Saturday. SFA hosts Lamar first before taking on rival Sam Houston State on Jan. 23 in part of another men's/women's doubleheader.
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