Nugent and Johnson Help Ladyjacks Batter Down Rams, 71-66

Saturday, November 28

Tempe, AZ

4:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

2-1,0-0Southland

Virginia Commonwealth (VCU)

1-2,0-0Atlantic 10

SFA

VCU

Nugent and Johnson Help Ladyjacks Batter Down Rams, 71-66

11/28/2020 7:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

TEMPE, AZ -- Sophomore guard Zya Nugent scored a career-high 26 points (11-17 FG, 4-7 3-Pt FG) and junior Aiyana Johnson notched 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the hot-shooting Ladyjacks defeat Virginia Commonwealth by a 71-66 score on Saturday afternoon inside Desert Financial Arena. The Ladyjacks converted on 55.8 percent (29-52) of their attempts from the floor and scored 42 points in the paint to improve to 2-1 on the season,

SFA opened up the game with an 11-2 run, receiving baskets from Johnson, Nugent and Marissa Banfield. With just over two minutes remaining in the opening frame, the Ladyjacks pushed the lead up to 15 points on a trey by Nugent, and would own a 26-12 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

After VCU trimmed the Ladyjack lead down to ten points (33-23), the 'Jacks rattled off 11 straight points thanks to baskets by Johnson, Banfield and two jumpers from Nugent. Folllowing a trey by VCU, a pair of free throws from Alyssa Mayfield and a layup from Nugent gave SFA a 22-point (48-26) lead at the intermission.

In the second half, the Rams used two strong quarters to make it a game again, outpacing the 'Jacks 40-23 over the final two frames. VCU would close the gap to within two points, 68-66, with 48 ticks left on the clock, but a timely basket by Johnson and a free throw from Banfield allowed the 'Jacks to put the game on ice.

A day after forcing their opponents into 30 turnovers, the Ladyjacks forced 14 VCU miscues and turned those into 17 points. The 'Jacks led the contest for all but 12 seconds.