Ladyjacks Chop Wildcats in Wednesday Night Showdown, 72-53

Wednesday, January 27

Abilene, TX

5:30 PM

Stephen F. Austin

15-2,7-0Southland

Abilene Christian University

10-4,3-2Southland

SFA

Abilene Christian

Ladyjacks Chop Wildcats in Wednesday Night Showdown, 72-53

1/27/2021 7:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ABILENE, Texas --

The undefeated Ladyjacks in Southland Conference play (15-2, 7-0 SLC) traveled to Abilene Christian (10-4, 3-2 SLC) Wednesday night for a midweek showdown against the Wildcats, coming back to Nacogdoches with a 73-52 road victory.

ACU came into the matchup averaging nearly 78 points per game, but the Ladyjacks were able to hold the Wildcats to its lowest point total at the half this season with 22 points, as SFA led 32-22 at the break.

FIRST HALF TIMELINE
SFA navigated ACU's 2-3 zone from the start, with Marissa Banfield able to convert on a pair of triples in the first half, as she finished the first half with eight points. The Ladyjacks went on a three-minute scoring drought toward the end of the 2^nd quarter, but two consecutive layups from Aiyana Johnson made it 25-18 SFA at 2:22 to play.

SFA was able to make the final mark on the 1^st half from a Stephanie Visscher inbound steal with no shot clock and passed the ball up to Marissa Banfield for a layup to put the Ladyjacks up by 10 points. SFA ended the 1^st half 5-6 from the field.

ACU SECOND HALF COMEBACK
ACU put themselves back into the ballgame and built momentum from four 3-pointers in the 3^rd quarter, and the game trend starting to go in ACU's way after making its first four shots of the half. The Wildcats trimmed the lead to 43-42 SFA off of an Alyssa Adams jumper, but the Ladyjacks were able to hold ACU scoreless in the final two minutes of the quarter, and Zya Nugent put the icing on the cake with a 3-pointer with 52 seconds on the clock to give her team a 46-42 at the end of three.

4^th QUARTER LADYJACK PULLAWAY
In the 4^th quarter, Aaliyah Johnson hit a pivotal 3-pointer to put her team back up by 11, 53-42 at 8:54 to play in the contest. The Wildcats didn't score a single point until 6:32 in the quarter to make it 53-44, but a Stephanie Visscher 3-pointer put the lead right back to 12. Banfield hit two more threes to put the dagger in the final minutes of the game, and SFA ran away with a 73-52 win over the Wildcats. The Ladyjacks forced 23 ACU turnovers, scoring 26 points on the other end.

SCORING LEADERS
Three Ladyjacks finished in double-figures, with Banfield and Nugent scoring 16 points apiece. Pilgrim's Player of the Game Aiyana Johnson was crucial on the night as well, contributing 14 points and six rebounds. Avery Brittingham chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.

UP NEXT
SFA will be back in action against Sam Houston on Saturday, January 30^th at William R. Johnson Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.