Thursday, November 10
Houston, Texas
7:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
at
Rice
Photo by: Hannah Hatton
Ladyjacks Head to Houston for First Road Game at Rice
11/9/2022 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin at Rice
Date: Thursday, November 10th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Live Stream: C-USA.TV
Stadium: Tudor Fieldhouse
Series: Tied 4-4
HOUSTON, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball program continue their non-conference schedule against Rice University.
Series
This will be the ninth meeting between the Ladyjacks and the Roadrunners. This is first matchup since the 2015-16 season where the Ladyjacks won 59-45.
Ladyjacks second half surge propels them past UTSA
Stephen F. Austin defeated The University of Texas at San Antonio, 68-63 on opening night.
SFA had their first buzzer beater of the season as Kurstyn Harden made a jumper to end the first half and bring the Ladyjacks to within two points at 36-34. In the fourth SFA took the lead with eight minutes left in the game off of a three-point shot from Kyla Deck and never looked back.
Harden led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. Aiyana Johnson also recorded eight rebounds in the game as well as three assists and one block. Freshman Jordan Harrison led SFA with four assists and two steals, while fellow freshman Kyla Deck finished with 14 points and four rebounds. Angel Scott led the team with three steals and also recorded four rebounds and scored nine points.
SFA led in points off of turnovers (17-14), second chance points (13-10), fast break points (14-12), and bench points (32-20).
A look at Rice
The Rice Owls women's basketball team took the floor for the first time in the 2022-23 season, downing Texas College 94-32 in an exhibition game.
Six Owls scored in double-figures, led by freshman Shelby Hayeswho scored 15 points in 16 minutes of action while collecting a team-high 11 rebounds. Maya Bokunewicz hit on five of six shots to finish with 14 points in 15 minutes while Ashlee Austin chipped in 12.
Freshmen Dominique Ennis (12) and Kennedy Clifton (11) also scored in double figures in their debuts as did junior transfer Fatou Samb (10). Ennis added six rebounds as did Malia Fisher and Destiny Jackson.
Senior Katelyn Crosthwait started in her return to the court for the first since her season-ending injury at Middle Tennessee last season and led the team with seven assists in 19 minutes.
Ladyjacks Ranked First in Preseason WAC Coaches and Media Polls and Aiyana Johnson Named Preseason WAC Player of the Year
SFA received nine first place votes, while UT Arlington and Grand Canyon each received two.
Johnson, a graduate student from Lee's Summit, Missouri, started all 32 games for the Ladyjacks last year. She had a .541 shooting percentage, 209 total rebounds, 51 assists, 36 blocks, 17 steals and scored 445 points. Johnson averaged 26.1 minutes per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 13.9 points per game.
2022-23 WAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Team (1st-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | Stephen F. Austin (9) | 140 |
| 2. | UT Arlington (2) | 126 |
| 3. | Grand Canyon (2) | 124 |
| 4. | California Baptist | 107 |
| 5. | Abilene Christian | 86 |
| 6. | Southern Utah | 83 |
| 7. | Sam Houston | 70 |
| 8. | Utah Valley | 69 |
| 9. | UTRGV | 56 |
| 10. | NM State | 46 |
| 11. | Tarleton | 44 |
| Utah Tech | 44 | |
| 13. | Seattle U | 19 |
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Aiyana Johnson, Grad, F/C, Stephen F. Austin
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC First Team
Trinity San Antonio, So., G, California Baptist
Aaliyah Collins, So., G, Grand Canyon
Madelyn Batista, Sr., F, Sam Houston
Tomekia Whitman, Sr., G, Southern Utah
Aiyana Johnson, Grad, F/C, Stephen F. Austin
Starr Jacobs, Grad, F, UT Arlington
Breaunna Gillen, Sr., G, Utah Tech
Emily Isaacson, Sr., G/F, Utah Tech
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Second Team
Bella Earle, So., G, Abilene Christian
Tiarra Brown, Jr., G/F, Grand Canyon
Chyna Allen, Grad, G, Sam Houston
Cherita Daugherty, Grad, G, Southern Utah
Jireh Washington, Grad, G, UT Arlington
Kayla White, Grad, G, UT Arlington
Iyana Dorsey, So., G, UTRGV
Shay Fano, Jr., F, Utah Valley
2022-23 WAC Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
| Rank | Team |
| 1. | Stephen F. Austin |
| 2. | UT Arlington |
| 3. | Grand Canyon |
| 4. | California Baptist |
| 5. | Abilene Christian |
| 6. | Sam Houston |
| 7. | Utah Tech |
| 8. | Southern Utah |
| 9. | Utah Valley |
| 10. | Tarleton |
| 11. | UTRGV |
| 12. | NM State |
| 13. | Seattle U |
2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Starr Jacobs, Grad, F, UT Arlington
2022-23 Preseason All-WAC Team
Maleeah Langstaff, Grad, F, Abilene Christian
Madi Miller, Grad, G, Abilene Christian
Trinity San Antonio, So., G, California Baptist
Aaliyah Collins, So., G, Grand Canyon
Aiyana Johnson, Grad, F/C, Stephen F. Austin
Starr Jacobs, Grad, F, UT Arlington
Jireh Washington, Grad, G, UT Arlington
Breaunna Gillen, Sr., G, Utah Tech
Players Mentioned
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