Ladyjacks Test Their Grit Against No. 1 Central Arkansas Saturday
2/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SFA (21-5, 12-3) vs. Central Arkansas (22-4, 14-2)
Game Day: Saturday, Feb. 25
Game Time: 4:00 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Southland Conference regular season is dwindling down, but the SFA Ladyjacks are still near the top of the conference standings. Coming into today's game against the first-place Central Arkansas Sugar Bears, the Ladyjacks find themselves tied for third place trailing second-place Abilene Christian by only one game and the Sugar Bears by two games. With a win today, the Ladyjacks could set themselves up for a possible late-season title run and the possibility of a two-round bye in the Southland Conference tournament in Katy in two weeks.
This game will be the 18th all-time meeting between the Sugar Bears and the Ladyjacks. The series started back in 2006-07 with SFA going on a three-game win streak before UCA won the second game of 2008-09. The Ladyjacks hold the all-time series record at 10-7, but SFA is 3-4 on the road against the Sugar Bears. The last time these two teams met was earlier this year at the Coliseum with UCA claiming the four-point win, 67-63. This was SFA first conference loss of the new season and second loss in a row to UCA. The loss also snapped SFA's 14-game winning streak.
Last time out: Stephen F. Austin took on the New Orleans Privateers on Thursday night in the Lakefront Arena. The Ladyjacks persevered through a difficult first quarter to take an eight-point lead at the half and then increase it to a 13-point lead in the third. New Orleans fought back hard in the fourth to make it a one point game with a minute to go, but the Ladyjacks consistency at the free-throw line saved the win, 71-67. Senior Taylor Ross had a game-high 30 points against New Orleans. She went 11-14 from the field and 8-9 at the charity stripe. Junior Taylor Jackson had nine points on the night, while redshirt junior Stevi Parker had eight points and five rebounds. Senior Adrienne Lewis led the Ladyjacks on the boards with 13 rebounds, ten of those on the defensive side. She helped the Ladyjacks outrebound the Privateers, 38-36. SFA finished their eighth game this season shooting over fifty percent from the field. They shot 52.8% from the field and went 70.6% at the free-throw line.
Scouting Central Arkansas: The Sugar Bears continue to lengthen their win streak to 13 after their win against Southeast Louisiana, 78-64. UCA held the Lions scoreless in the first 11 minutes of the game. Kierra Jordan led the Sugar Bears with 20 points and seven rebounds. Maggie Profitt added 17 points and led the Sugar Bears with five assists. Taylor Baudoin had 12 points and five rebounds. The Sugar Bears currently lead the Southland Conference with a 14-2 record. They are the number one scoring defense in the league and number one in assists and rebounding defense.
Next up: The Ladyjacks will be headed back to Nacogdoches and begin their preparation for Rivalry Week. On March 2, the Lady Demons from Northwestern State will be coming to town to test their might against the Ladyjacks in what will be the annual Cram the Coliseum game. SFA lost its last meeting with Northwestern State in overtime. March 4 will pit the bitter rivals Sam Houston State against SFA in Nacogdoches for their second meeting of the year with the Ladyjacks. The game against SHSU will be the Purple Out game for SFA.
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