Ladyjacks Host McNeese on Saturday to Open SLC Play
1/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin (6-5) vs. McNeese State (8-4)
Saturday, January 2 • 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 is set to begin its quest for a third straight Southland Conference regular season title when league play gets underway on Saturday night inside William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks host the Cowgirls of McNeese State starting at 4:00 p.m. The contest, which serves as the front end of a men's/women's doubleheader, will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
STORYLINES
• Saturday's matchup with McNeese marks the third and final game of the Ladyjacks' current homestand. It is also the second of four games SFA has on its schedule in a small eight-day span. Next week, the Ladyjacks will travel to play Southeastern Louisiana on Monday before returning home to take on Central Arkansas on Thursday night.
• The Ladyjacks have their eyes set on a third consecutive Southland Conference regular season title in 2016 after winning the league championship each of the last two seasons. Already with a league-best 17 regular season crowns, a third straight title in 2016 would make SFA the first team in the league to three-peat since the Ladyjacks accomplished the feat from 2000-02.
• SFA hasn't lost to a Southland Conference opponent at home in 694 days. The Ladyjacks' last loss against a league foe inside William R. Johnson Coliseum came back on Feb. 6, 2014 in a narrow 75-74 double overtime setback against Nicholls. Over the last three seasons, SFA is 17-1 against the conference at home, including a 9-0 record last season.
• Saturday's conference opener will be the 59th meeting in the all-time series between SFA and McNeese. The Ladyjacks hold a commanding 45-13 advantage overall, but fell to the Cowgirls last year on the road in the league opener, 73-67. Porsha Roberts had a big double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds to go with five blocks. Despite the effort, SFA couldn't keep the pace in one of just two SLC losses a year ago.
• The Ladyjacks and Cowgirls had three common opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedules. Both squads beat Rice, but McNeese was the only team to beat both UT Arlington and LA Tech. The Cowgirls most recently played at LA Tech on Dec. 22, downing the Lady Techsters 74-71. McNeese is led by a dynamic backcourt trio in Allison Baggett (12.5 ppg, 40.5 3FG%), Jayln Johnson (11.3 ppg, 4.3 apg) and Amber Donnes (9.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
-SFA-
