Stephen F. Austin
South Dakota
SFA Drops Opener to South Dakota, 80-74
11/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
VERMILLION, S.D. – The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks opened their season in Vermillion, South Dakota against the University of South Dakota. SFA had the early lead in the first quarter, but the stamina of the Coyotes would prove to win out. Four Ladyjacks would finish with double-digit points. Redshirt junior Stevi Parker would lead the team with 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Newcomer junior Taylor Jackson had a breakout first game for the Ladyjacks with 17 points and two assists. Senior Taylor Ross had 13 points, followed by freshman Riley Harvey with 10. The Ladyjacks would out rebound the Coyotes, 31-24. South Dakota would shoot 59.6% from the field, while the Ladyjacks only shot 38.3%. SFA was 26 for 31 from the line (83.9%).
Redshirt junior Stevi Parker opens the scoring for the Ladyjacks with two back-to-back three to give the Ladyjacks the early lead 11-7, but the Coyotes would then take back the lead 12-11 going in to the first media timeout. Jackson would then would put two threes away and with the help of an And-1 situation from Parker, the Ladyjacks would take a solid lead 24-19 at the end of the first quarter.
The Coyotes would score right off the start of the second quarter to cut the Ladyjacks lead to 29-23. South Dakota would then switch into their zone defensive, which would limit the Ladyjacks to only three points to the Coyotes eight points, forcing the Ladyjacks to take an early timeout. SFA would go into the locker room at the half trailing 38-31.
SFA came out ready to score in the second half with a quick post-up look from Senior Adrienne Lewis. Though, South Dakota would come with a 9-0 streak going into the 7:27 minutes mark in the third quarter. Sophomore Kennedy Harris get a drive into the paint and draws the foul from South Dakota. She would continue to hustle getting her own rebound on the free-throw for a two point put-back. Her drive would not end though as she created a steal from the South Dakota offensive and gives Parker a change to close the gap. SFA would cut the South Dakota lead to a nine point game after the play. Parker would get a great look to Harvey for the finish to help the Ladyjacks get back in the game.
South Dakota would go on an 8-5 run to start the fourth quarter pushing the score to 71-56. The Ladyjacks would claw their way back up to a ten point deficit thanks to Ross and Parker. SFA brought on the full court press with 2:26 to go to try and stop the South Dakota offense. The coaching call gave the Ladyjacks the momentum they needed cutting the Coyote lead to five points, after a Ross and a Harvey field goal. Down in the final minute of the game, Ladyjacks with a four point deficit, and both teams, in the double bonus, would take a total of eight free-throws. Ross would get a break-away to add another two points to the Ladyjack score, but it would not be enough as the Ladyjacks drop the season opener. 80-74.
The Ladyjacks will be back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 16th at 7:00 p.m. CT. They will face the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies for their first home opener of the season. The game will be livestreamed on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
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