Ladyjacks Jump Ahead Early, Cage Tigers at Home in 74-55 Victory

Saturday, December 15

Nacogdoches, Texas

8:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

Texas Southern

SFA

Ladyjacks Jump Ahead Early, Cage Tigers at Home in 74-55 Victory

12/15/2018 10:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SFA outscores visitors 22-5 in third quarter to win third straight game

By: Kevin Meyer | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team used a decisive 14-4 first quarter run to seize early control of a Saturday night contest and led the rest of the way, dispatching Texas Southern 74-55. The win preserves a flawless home record thus far for the Ladyjacks, who ran their record to 7-0 at home and 7-2 overall.

A balanced scoring effort led the way for SFA in the victory, as Chanell Hayes scored 18, Riley Harvey added 13 and Imani Johnson netted 12 points. Stephanie Visscher chipped in 11 points and five rebounds as well. The Ladyjacks shot 22-50 (44 percent) from the field, 8-27 (29.6 percent) from the field and 22-28 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line in the win.

TAKING THE LEAD
A 14-4 run by SFA broke a 4-4 tie early in the first quarter and staked SFA out to an 18-8 lead with about four minutes to play in the first. After Texas Southern chipped away at the lead, a small 6-0 run by the Ladyjacks to end the quarter put the home side up by a 25-15 margin heading into the second quarter.

SFA's lead grew slightly in the second quarter, as the 'Jacks scored 18 points to outpace 16 by the visitors.

THE LEAD GROWS
After taking a 43-31 edge into the halftime break, the Ladyjacks turned the contest into a rout thanks to a 22-5 edge in the third quarter, during which they stretched the lead to a game-high 31 points with under two minutes remaining in the stanza.

From there, the 'Jacks comfortably weathered a late charge from Texas Southern, during which the Tigers instituted a intense press and outscored SFA 19-9 in the frame.

COACHES QUOTES
"I thought we were pretty solid through three quarters", said SFA head coach Mark Kellogg. "We got a but untracked in that fourth quarter, and I think there are two ways to look at that fourth quarter, because we haven't been pressed like that and it will be good to watch the film and get better at that. I thought we did some good things in that third quarter coming out of the locker room. From an offensive standpoint I thought we were really balanced, we almost had all five starters in double figures and we moved the ball really well."

SFA forced 15 turnovers on the night and turned those miscues into 21 points, but conceded 40 points in the paint and 20 fast break points.

"Defensively I was a little disappointed because the things that they do well were not things we stopped them from doing", continued Mark Kellogg. "They did what they do, and that's the disappointing thing, because a good defensive team takes them out of what they're really good at, and to their credit we couldn't get them out of that tonight. Overall I'm proud of our kids, I thought we competed and played really hard, and were really solid through the first three quarters."

Next up for SFA is a trip to New Mexico and a pair of games in the Lobo Invitational, beginning with a Wednesday night matchup with Hampton.

OF NOTE
• SFA's 22-5 scoring edge in the third quarter continued a trend for SFA, during which they have outscored opponents 165-64 in the third quarter at home this season.
• The Ladyjacks have now hit at least seven three-pointers in eight of their nine games this season.
• The Ladyjacks had assists on 16 of their 22 baskets (72.7 percent), and have assists on 160 of their 220 made buckets this season (72.7 percent)

-SFA-