Wednesday, January 23
Abilene, Texas
6:00 PM
Stephen F. Austin
15-3 (6-0SLC)
71
at
55
Abilene Christian
12-6 (5-2SLC)
1
2
3
4
F
SFA
15
15
16
25
71
Abilene Christian
20
6
21
8
55
Fourth Quarter Surge Propels Ladyjacks Past Wildcats in Abilene, 71-55
1/23/2019 8:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SFA bench unit helps keep SFA perfect in SLC play
ABILENE, Texas – A pivotal fourth-quarter surge by the SFA women's basketball team turned a third-quarter deficit into a comfortable victory for the Ladyjacks on Wednesday night in Moody Coliseum, 71-55. SFA (15-3, 6-0 SLC) made up a small deficit and pulled away from the Wildcats thanks to a 25-point final quarter that begin with a 12-0 run over the opening four minutes of the stanza.
Moving away from their reliable three-point shooting and attempting just eight treys on the night, the Ladyjacks used their height inside—namely the Johnson sisters—to bully the Wildcats to the tune of a 26-16 edge in points in the paint and a 20-28 effort at the charity stripe.
PERFORMANCES OF NOTE
Imani Johnson led the way for SFA with 18 points and six rebounds in the contest, while younger sister Aiyana Johnson continued her strong play with an 11-point, eight rebound effort. Aaliyah Johnson came through with six big points for SFA in the middle of the contest, while Marissa Banfield (2-3 3-pt) and Heaven Hamling (seven points) combined for SFA's three trifectas on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SFA got into early foul trouble in the first quarter and the Wildcats took advantage, opening up a 20-15 lead after the first quarter with most of SFA's starting lineup forced to the bench.
Undeterred, SFA turned to its bench unit to pick up the slack and the early results were promising, as the Ladyjacks opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to retake the lead, 21-20 at the second quarter media timeout. Aiyana Johnson carried over her torrid stretch of play from the past two games into this one, connecting on her first three field goal attempts to help SFA retake the lead.
As the hosts encountered a sudden cold spell resulting in just six second-quarter points, the Ladyjacks continued to claw back into the contest on the strength of a solid 15-point quarter. A long two from Alyssa Mayfield would send the 'Jacks into the halftime break ahead by a 30-26 margin. Missing on both their three-point attempts in the half, the Ladyjacks instead focused their efforts down low, recording 12 points in the paint in the half.
THE WILDCATS RESPOND IN THE THIRD
The Ladyjacks got to work early in the third quarter, extending the lead out to seven points on three separate occasions thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Marissa Banfield. ACU would respond by cutting the lead down to 41-40 with under three minutes left to play in the third with a run of their own.
After Imani Johnson scored the final two of her seven third-quarter points, the Wildcats would take a 47-46 lead heading into the fourth off a Breanna Wright trey with four seconds to go in the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER FORTE
Facing a fourth-quarter deficit, the Ladyjacks responded in a big way, making a 9-0 run in the opening minutes of the final quarter by forcing the ball inside and earning trips to the line to take a 55-47 lead. The lead would extend to 58-47 on a Heaven Hamling three-ball with 6:42 left to play, prompting an ACU timeout to attempt to stop the bleeding. While the 'Cats would trim the lead back to single digits briefly out of the timeout, SFA went back ahead by double digits on consecutive baskets by Imani Johnson.
ACU would get no closer for the remainder of the contest, as the 'Jacks extended the lead out to a game-high 19 points with half a minute left to play and won by a final score of 71-55.
OF NOTE
• With some starters in foul trouble for SFA, the Ladyjacks turned to their bench unit, which responded with a 30-3 edge in scoring over their counterparts from ACU.
• SFA's 20 free throw makes marked the fifth time this season that the Ladyjacks have made 20 or more free throws in a game.
• The Ladyjacks have now shot 44 percent or better in each of the past seven games (all wins).
• SFA improves to 23-6 in the month of January while under the guidance of Mark Kellogg.
• SFA improves to 6-0 to begin SLC play for the third consecutive season.
-SFA-
Moving away from their reliable three-point shooting and attempting just eight treys on the night, the Ladyjacks used their height inside—namely the Johnson sisters—to bully the Wildcats to the tune of a 26-16 edge in points in the paint and a 20-28 effort at the charity stripe.
PERFORMANCES OF NOTE
Imani Johnson led the way for SFA with 18 points and six rebounds in the contest, while younger sister Aiyana Johnson continued her strong play with an 11-point, eight rebound effort. Aaliyah Johnson came through with six big points for SFA in the middle of the contest, while Marissa Banfield (2-3 3-pt) and Heaven Hamling (seven points) combined for SFA's three trifectas on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SFA got into early foul trouble in the first quarter and the Wildcats took advantage, opening up a 20-15 lead after the first quarter with most of SFA's starting lineup forced to the bench.
Undeterred, SFA turned to its bench unit to pick up the slack and the early results were promising, as the Ladyjacks opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to retake the lead, 21-20 at the second quarter media timeout. Aiyana Johnson carried over her torrid stretch of play from the past two games into this one, connecting on her first three field goal attempts to help SFA retake the lead.
As the hosts encountered a sudden cold spell resulting in just six second-quarter points, the Ladyjacks continued to claw back into the contest on the strength of a solid 15-point quarter. A long two from Alyssa Mayfield would send the 'Jacks into the halftime break ahead by a 30-26 margin. Missing on both their three-point attempts in the half, the Ladyjacks instead focused their efforts down low, recording 12 points in the paint in the half.
THE WILDCATS RESPOND IN THE THIRD
The Ladyjacks got to work early in the third quarter, extending the lead out to seven points on three separate occasions thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Marissa Banfield. ACU would respond by cutting the lead down to 41-40 with under three minutes left to play in the third with a run of their own.
After Imani Johnson scored the final two of her seven third-quarter points, the Wildcats would take a 47-46 lead heading into the fourth off a Breanna Wright trey with four seconds to go in the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER FORTE
Facing a fourth-quarter deficit, the Ladyjacks responded in a big way, making a 9-0 run in the opening minutes of the final quarter by forcing the ball inside and earning trips to the line to take a 55-47 lead. The lead would extend to 58-47 on a Heaven Hamling three-ball with 6:42 left to play, prompting an ACU timeout to attempt to stop the bleeding. While the 'Cats would trim the lead back to single digits briefly out of the timeout, SFA went back ahead by double digits on consecutive baskets by Imani Johnson.
ACU would get no closer for the remainder of the contest, as the 'Jacks extended the lead out to a game-high 19 points with half a minute left to play and won by a final score of 71-55.
OF NOTE
• With some starters in foul trouble for SFA, the Ladyjacks turned to their bench unit, which responded with a 30-3 edge in scoring over their counterparts from ACU.
• SFA's 20 free throw makes marked the fifth time this season that the Ladyjacks have made 20 or more free throws in a game.
• The Ladyjacks have now shot 44 percent or better in each of the past seven games (all wins).
• SFA improves to 23-6 in the month of January while under the guidance of Mark Kellogg.
• SFA improves to 6-0 to begin SLC play for the third consecutive season.
-SFA-
Team Stats
SFA
ACU
FG%
.490
.273
3FG%
.375
.161
FT%
.714
.870
RB
34
35
TO
8
14
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
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