SFA will Face McNeese in Southland Conference Quaterfinal on Friday
3/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin (23-6, 14-4) vs. McNeese (13-16, 8-10)
Game Day: Friday, March 10
Tip-Off: 1:30 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin Women’s basketball team kicks off their 2017 post season tournament on Friday afternoon with a matchup against McNeese. The sixth seeded Cowgirls defeated Nicholls earlier on Thursday to advance them into the quarterfinal round against the Ladyjacks, who were seeded number three.
Last year in the Southland Conference Tournament, SFA was once again the number three seed, but fell in the quarterfinal round to Sam Houston, 78-70. Since the first season of Ladyjack basketball SFA has won 32 conference titles, 15 of those from the post season tournament, more than triple the amount of any Southland Conference team. The Ladyjacks have made 28 appearances in the tournament and hold a 42-13 tournament record. Seven times throughout SFA women’s basketball history, the Ladyjacks have claimed the first round bye and then went on to win the championship title.
SFA and McNeese have not seen each other play since January 2, as the second game of conference play this season. In that game SFA took a big 96-65 win over McNeese at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, La. The win was number 10 for SFA in their early season win streak that was extended later into 14 games. The Ladyjacks had five players in double-digits, and two players finish with double-doubles. Senior Taylor Ross led with 28 points, ten assists, and nine rebounds. While redshirt junior Stevi Parker claimed the other double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Adrienne Lewis also had a terrific night totaling 12 points and seven rebounds. The freshman standout Riley Harvey rounded out the double-figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Since then McNeese had only had losses to top four teams, like Central Arkansas, Abilene Christian, and Lamar and had some tremendous wins over Houston Baptist, Sam Houston, and Incarnate Word. Seniors Victoria Rachel and Amber Donnes continue to lead McNeese in scoring. Rachel, an All-SLC honorable mention selection, leads the Cowgirls with 11.8 ppg, and has scored in double figures in nine of the last 12 games. Donnes is chipping in with 10.8 ppg.
McNeese knocked off the number seven seeded, Nicholls, on Thursday afternoon.
Last Time Out: Stephen F. Austin took on its archrival Sam Houston for their final game of the regular season to win the first round bye in to the Southland Tournament. The Ladyjacks pulled a 42 point second half to win 64-49, after only leading by two at the half.
Two Ladyjacks were in double figures that night. Ross, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, totaled her 14th game this season with 20 or more points. Ross posted 26 points, five assists, and five steals. Sophomore Chanell Hayes totaled double-digits for the second game in a row. She had 16 points last Thursday against Northwestern State, and she posted 13 against Sam Houston. Lewis led on the boards for SFA, grabbing seven rebounds and claiming eight points.
Next Up: Should the Ladyjacks be victorious against McNeese, they will then advance into the semifinal round on Saturday, where they will face Lamar. SFA beat Lamar, 74-66, earlier in the season during SFA’s annual Pink Put game.
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