Parker’s Ascent to 1000-Point Plateau Not Enough as ‘Jacks Drop Final Home Game of 2017-18 Campaign to Lamar, 75-58

Saturday, February 24

Nacogdoches, Texas

3:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

22-5 (14-2SLC)

Lamar

21-6 (16-1SLC)

Lamar University

Stephen F. Austin

Parker’s Ascent to 1000-Point Plateau Not Enough as ‘Jacks Drop Final Home Game of 2017-18 Campaign to Lamar, 75-58

2/24/2018 6:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Parker becomes 32nd Ladyjack in program history to eclipse 1000 career points

By: Kevin Meyer | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas-- A heavily hyped up rematch between the two top teams in the Southland Conference did not end in favor of the Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team, as they dropped an error-filled contest to Lamar on Saturday afternoon, 75-58. SFA fell behind early due to a bevy of turnovers and never recovered in the contest, trailing wire-to-wire in the loss.

"First of all it's disappointment," said SFA head coach Mark Kellogg. "Disappointed in the outcome in the game of that magnitude, and just disappointed that it wasn't our best, we didn't put forth our best effort, and a lot of that had to do with Lamar and how they came out in that first half. They came out the aggressor, I thought we were on our heels a little bit, played very tentative, which hasn't been us. It stings a little bit right now, but at the same time I don't want this to define our season going forward, there is still plenty to play for."

Stevi Parker scored 18 points to lead the Ladyjacks, and in doing so eclipsed the 1,000 point plateau for her career, becoming the 32^nd Ladyjack in program history to do so. Marissa Banfield added 10 points for SFA, which falls to 22-5 on the season, 14-2 in SLC play and 14-1 at home this season. The loss also snapped SFA's 16-game home winning streak, which dated back to last season.

SFA's performance from the opening tip left much to be desired, as the 'Jacks committed five turnovers before scoring for the first time in the game, and would trail 10-0 in the early going of the contest. The Ladyjacks finally ended the scoring drought and closed the gap somewhat, aided by a 4-4 effort from the free throw line. Even still, the Cardinals would shoot 63 percent (7-11) from the field in the opening stanza and lead 18-12 after one quarter.

Any momentum the 'Jacks had built up in the waning minutes of the opening quarter was quickly dashed by another Lamar run to open the second, as the Cardinals scored ten straight in the opening five minutes of the frame. SFA tried to get something going in response, with Taylor Jackson scoring five quick points on a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, but Lamar would outscore SFA 13-3 the rest of the way to carry a 41-20 edge into the halftime break.

A high-scoring third quarter for both teams represented the lone frame in which SFA would outscore the visiting Cardinals, as they crafted a 22-17 advantage. Having shot just 6-21 in the opening half, the Ladyjacks instead shot a white-hot 8-11 (72.7 percent) from the field in the third quarter, including three trifectas. It was on a layup with 4:30 remaining in the quarter where Parker would score her historic 1000^th point, one of nine she would have in the third quarter alone. SFA would end the quarter with some momentum courtesy of Parker, as her layup and foul shot with 20 seconds left would get the lead down to just 16 points as 58-42, the lowest it had been since the second quarter.

"It's a special honor that very few players across the country get to achieve, and you work very hard to get the opportunity," Kellogg said of Parker. "Special is definitely a word I'd use to describe Stevi as a player, you don't get to coach them too many times in your career, she's a kid who basically averages a double-double, and it's the charges and the stuff that doesn't always show up in the stats. She obviously has the utmost respect from myself, the other coaches and her teammates. I just hate that we had to end it like this, it would've been very special to have that, Senior Night and a win. She's a talented kid who has meant a lot to this program over the years."

Having begun to trim the lead with a high-scoring third quarter, the 'Jacks were able to further trim the deficit down to 15 with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, but were unable to get any closer, as the Cardinals continued to score in the fourth, shooting 7-16 (47 percent) in the frame.

The Ladyjacks also celebrated Senior Night after the contest, where the two-member senior class of Parker and Jackson were recognized for their contributions to the program in their final home game as Ladyjacks. Jackson would notch eight points and two assists in the game.

"I'm really proud of how far Taylor has come," said Kellogg. "She's been really good for us in conference play, we probably play her out of position because she's naturally a scorer and we ask her to play the point and just do so much for us. She's a tremendous kid, she's such a joy to be around, and her and Stevi both will be difficult to replace."

For the game, SFA would shoot 20-46 (43.5 percent) from the field and 8-21 (38.1 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Cardinals converted on 30-63 (47.6 percent) from the field and 9-22 (40.9 percent) from beyond the arc. The Cardinals built up heavy advantages in points in the paint (36-24), points off turnovers (30-15), second chance points (23-2), fast break points (10-6) and bench scoring (21-12). SFA committed 24 turnovers in the contest, as the Cardinals notched 14 steals.

With its home schedule wrapped up, SFA will now hit the road for a pair of games to end the regular season. On Wednesday, the 'Jacks will travel to face sixth-place Abilene Christian in Abilene, before wrapping up the regular season with a road tilt in Hunstville against rival Sam Houston State on March 3.

-SFA-