Ladyjacks Square Off Against Lamar in Semifinals of Southland Tournament
3/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin (24-6) vs. Lamar (22-6)
Leonard E. Merrell Center - Katy, Texas
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Watch | Tournament Central
KATY, Texas – Stephen F. Austin has placed themselves in the company of Lamar University for the semifinal round of the Southland Conference tournament. The Ladyjacks have one victory in the books for their 2017 post-season career after defeating McNeese on Friday afternoon. They now aim for the battle with Lamar on Saturday for a chance at the Southland Conference Championship.
The Ladyjacks are no strangers to the pressure of the semifinal round as they have gone 19-2 in the semifinal round from their 28 appearances in post season play. From those 21 trips to the semifinal round, SFA has emerged with the Championship title fifteen different times.
When it comes to SFA and Lamar, the teams have met five times in post season play. Lamar leads the all-time series in tournament play against SFA 3-2. The last time these two teams faced in post season was in 2013 in the second round of action, and Lamar claimed the 69-66 verdict. The time before that was in 2012 in the first round, and this time SFA took claimed the victory, 76-64.
The Ladyjacks and Cardinals have seen each other once during the regular season for a game in Nacogdoches on February 11. The Cardinals came into town for the annual Play4Kay game and had the rug swept out from under them as SFA took the solid 74-66 win. The Ladyjacks dominated the boards as they outrebounded Lamar 52-38, a season-high for the Ladyjacks. Senior Adrienne Lewis and redshirt junior Stevi Parker both claimed double-doubles on the night, as well as, senior Taylor Ross completed the night with 21 points, going 6-10 from the field and 7-11 at the free-throw line.
Last Time Out: SFA opened their 2017 tournament play against McNeese on Friday afternoon. The Ladyjacks took the 4-0 lead in the second minute of play and never looked back until the final buzzer rang. SFA knocked off McNeese from the quarterfinal round with a 77-63 win over the Cowgirls. Four Ladyjacks were in double-digits. Ross totaled her fifteenth game with 20 or more points after posting 24 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Parker had 18 points and 14 rebounds, her career 11th and season eighth double-double. Sophomore Kennedy Harris totaled 11 points, two rebounds, and a steal. Junior Taylor Jackson round out the Ladyjacks in double figures with 10 points and four rebounds. As a team, SFA outrebounded the Cowgirls 52-34, matching their season-high rebounds, and made 50 of their 77 points from inside the paint.
Scouting Lamar: The Cardinals have yet to make their debut at the 2017 tournament. As the second seed team coming into the tournament, Lamar won a two-round bye, making Saturday their first day of competition. Lamar has not set foot on a competition stage since last Saturday when they posted an 83-67 win over McNeese. Chastadie Barrs produced her third straight double-double during that game, finishing with 13 points and tied a season-high with 10 assists. Barrs, the nation’s leader in steals, had four on Saturday to give her 132 for the season. Lamar had five players score in double figures, led by Moe Kinard with 23 points. Ashlan Miles had 11 points, while Kiandra Bowers and Kyla Green each added 10 points.
Next Up: Should the Ladyjacks be victorious over Lamar, then only the Championship game stands between the Ladyjacks and the title. The Championship match will be on Sunday, March 12 at the Merrell Center in Katy. SFA will face the victor of the Central Arkansas/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi game that takes place on Saturday before the Ladyjacks take the floor at 3:30 p.m. The Championship will have an 11:30 a.m. tip-off on Sunday, and the game will be live streamed on the CBS Sports Network.
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