Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Ladyjacks Overwhelm Colonels, Win Eighth Straight 89-67
2/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin 89, Nicholls 67
Stopher Gym • Thibodaux, Louisiana
Records: SFA (15-10, 9-5 SLC); NICH (8-16, 6-8 SLC)
Up Next: at Incarnate Word (6-18, 3-10 SLC) • Wednesday, Feb. 24 • 6:00 p.m.
Box Score 
THIBODAUX, La. – The Stephen F. Austin women’s basketball team outscored Nicholls 50-30 in a dominant second half on Saturday afternoon to roll over the Colonels by a final score of 89-67 inside Stopher Gym. The Ladyjacks have won eight straight games to jump into fourth place in the Southland Conference standings.
Junior guard Taylor Ross had arguably the most complete game of the season, registering a game-high 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting while posting season bests in rebounds (7) and steals (6). For the fourth consecutive game, Ross also handed out six assists. It is the ninth time this season she’s scored 20-plus.
Up by just two, 39-37, at the start of the third quarter, the Ladyjacks mounted an 11-0 run out of the halftime break to go up 50-37. Paulletta Powell rattled in a three-pointer from the top of the key on the first possession, Taylor Schippers hit a pull-up in transition and made two free throws after a Nicholls technical foul, and Ross and Danielle Rogers traded jumpers before the Colonels knew what hit them.
The rout was on from there as SFA built its 61-50 third quarter cushion to 22 in the fourth. Senior guard Victoria Pena banked in a three with 22 seconds left to match the highest margin.
Brentney Branch complimented Ross offensively, using four three-pointers to help post 16 points. Schippers pitched in 13 points – all coming in the second half – and a season-high/team-high eight rebounds. Adrienne Lewis put in 5-of-6 shots to chip in 10 points and give SFA four in double figures for the 11th time on the season.
After not scoring until the fourth quarter in Thursday night’s win at Lamar, Ross was involved early and often on Saturday. She made her first three field goal attempts and scored 10 points in the first quarter to give SFA a 17-16 edge after 10 minutes.
Branch, who made four three-pointers in the second half in Thursday’s comeback effort, carried that momentum into the first half against the Colonels. She hit four triples in the opening period with three coming as a part of her 11-point second quarter. She splashed in four of her first five attempts from beyond the arc to help the Ladyjacks grab a 39-37 advantage at the half.
Ross and Branch led all scorers with 14 points apiece at the intermission.
With her three-point barrage to start the game, Branch moved up to sixth all-time in SFA history with 144 career three-pointers made, passing Stephanie Whitmore (1996-00).
Paulletta Powell and Chanell Hayes each scored eight points on the afternoon and Kennedy Harris also had four steals and four assists.
SFA dominated in the paint, outscoring Nicholls 44-18 down low. The ‘Jacks also enjoyed advantages in fast break points (20-6), bench scoring (35-20) and field goal percentage (46.4-32.3).
The Ladyjacks will look for their ninth straight victory when they return to action on Wednesday night at Incarnate Word. First tip is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in San Antonio.
-SFA-
Today's player of the game Taylor Ross talks about some of the keys to her success this afternoon. #AxeEm pic.twitter.com/IkcflfaZtm
— Ladyjacks Basketball (@SFA_WBB) February 20, 2016
