Ladyjacks Lose Heartbreaker to Liberty

Friday, November 10

Nacogdoches, TX

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

1-1,0-0WAC

Liberty University

2-0,0-0CUSA

OT 1

Liberty

SFA

Ladyjacks Lose Heartbreaker to Liberty

11/10/2023 11:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks fell 84-81 to the Liberty University Flames in overtime on Friday night.

The Ladyjacks played an extremely competitive game all night against Liberty, who is one of the favorites to win the Conference USA title this season. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as neither team held more than a four-point lead until Liberty went on a 6-0 run to end the first quarter to give them a 16-11 lead after the first. However, the Ladyjacks roared back in the second quarter and found their groove as they started making it rain three-pointers as they made five in the quarter and outscored Liberty 23-13 in the quarter. Kyla Deck was able to draw a foul just before the second quarter ended and sunk a pair of free throws to give SFA a 34-29 lead at halftime. The third quarter saw SFA grow their lead to 40-31, the largest by either team in the entire game, but Liberty chipped away at the lead the entire third quarter and only trailed 56-54 at the end of the third, which saw Destini Lombard sink a pair of free throws with one second to go to keep SFA in the lead. The fourth quarter might have been the lowest scoring quarter of the game to that point; however, it provided plenty of entertainment as Liberty's Jordan Hodges hit a three-pointer with just over a little minute left to give the Flames a slim 71-70 lead. However, Kyla Deck was able to draw a foul for SFA and drained a free throw with just 23 seconds left in the game to help force a decisive overtime period at the Sawmill.

The overtime period saw SFA strike first as Zoe Nelson hit a pair of free throws to give the 'Jacks a slim two-point lead at 73-71. Both teams exchanged blows the entire extra session as neither team led by more than two points. With just over 20 seconds remaining in overtime, Asia Boone put home a fastbreak layup for Liberty to give them an 81-80 lead, which they would not relinquish in route to an 83-80 road win.

All five Ladyjack starters scored in double-digits and were led by Kurstyn Harden who stuffed the stat sheet for the 'Jacks. Harden scored 23, pulled down a team-leading six rebounds, dished out three assists, and was a perfect 13-13 from the charity stripe. Kyla Deck finished second on the team in scoring with 15 points and grabbed four rebounds of her own, tied for second most on the team. Deck and Destini Lombard, who scored 11 points, were workhorses for SFA tonight as they both played a team-leading 43 minutes. Zoe Nelson scored 13 as she drained a pair of three-pointers, while Tyler McCliment-Call knocked down four triples in route to a 12-point performance.

Overall, SFA shot 40% from the field, 32.1% from downtown, and an impressive 80% from the free-throw line. In addition, the Ladyjacks scored 26 points in the paint, 20 points off turnovers, and had seven second chance, fast break, and bench points. The defense was active all night for SFA yet again as they recorded 13 steals and 32 rebounds and have recorded double-digit steals in back-to-back games to begin the season.

The Ladyjacks will stay at the Sawmill for their next game and will be back in action on Thursday, November 16^th when they get set to square off with the UNT Mean Green at 6:30 p.m. CST.