Ladyjacks Finish out Rivalry Week in Natchitoches, La.
2/3/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SFA (17-3, 8-1) vs. Northwestern State (9-11, 3-6)
Game Day: Saturday, Feb. 4
Tip-off: 1:00 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks face off against the Northwestern State Lady Demons on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. The Ladyjacks are coming off a second half comeback over Sam Houston during Thursday night’s game. The win puts SFA back in the win streak column with two wins over New Orleans and now SHSU. SFA is now 16th in the nation for their won-lost percentage, but fell to 26th and 21st on the NCAA lists for free-throw makes and attempts after only getting the chance to go 12 for 16 at the line during the Sam Houston game. The Ladyjacks are still ranked highly for their defense in turnovers forced and steals per game.
In the Southland conference standings, SFA is still neck and next with Abilene Christian, who won against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi this week. Both teams boast an 8-1 record, but SFA has the slight edge in their overall record score. Abilene Christian will play Sam Houston on Saturday, while SFA will take on Northwestern State. The Ladyjacks hold top marks in the Southland Conference in Free-throws made (319); Scoring Offense, averaging 75.7 points per game; and Won-Lost Percentage. They are in the top 3 for 17 different statistical catagories, including top spots in free-throws and scoring offense.
Northwestern State and the Ladyjacks hold the longest program All-Time series record in the SFA books. The two teams have clashed a total of 77 times since 1972. SFA was on a three game win streak against the Lady Demons until Northwestern State upset the Ladyjacks, 72-51 on the road in their second match up of the 2015-16 season. Before the win streak started for SFA, they also dropped a 62-44 loss to Northwestern in the Southland Conference tournament championship game.
Last time out: The Ladyjacks had a tough first half against Sam Houston on Thursday posting only 12-40 shots from the field (30.0%), but they found their stride completing an 83-63 win over the Bearkats. The ball began to fall for SFA in the second half allowing SFA to finish going 30-71 (42.3%) from the field. The Ladyjacks posted 32 points from within the paint and 15 points off second chances. Two Ladyjacks collected 20 points on the night, senior Brentney Branch and senior Taylor Ross. Branch had a career night putting up seven three-pointers for 25 total points in the game. Redshirt junior Stevi Parker finished with her eighth career and fifth season double-double posting 10 points and 14 rebounds. Ross was one assist short of a double-double. She had 21 points and nine assists. Freshman Lovisa Brunnberg also posted six points, tying her career high triples with two from beyond the arc.
Scouting Northwestern State: The Lady Demons are on a three-game losing streak after facing McNeese, Southeastern Louisiana, and Lamar these past two weeks. They dropped the Lamar game 73-60 after leading the game by three at the end of the third quarter, however they could not stop the Lamar surge in the fourth quarter that tacked on 24 points. Shahd Abboud and Beatrice Attura lead the Demons with 17 points each, while Cheyenne Brown battled at the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds and posting 15 points.
After this weekend, SFA will have one more road game in Thibodeaux. La. before their “Play 4 Kay” Pink Out game at hone against Lamar. The Ladyjacks will face off against the Nicholls Colonels on Thursday, Feb. 8. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.
-SFA-
