Ladyjacks Tame ‘Cats in Double Overtime

Saturday, December 2

Nacogdoches, TX

2:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

5-2,2-0WAC

Abilene Christian University

4-3,1-1WAC

OT 1

OT 2

Abilene Christian

SFA

Ladyjacks Tame ‘Cats in Double Overtime

12/2/2023 5:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (5-2, 2-0) returned home and won their fourth straight game as they grinded out a thrilling double overtime win over conference rival Abilene Christian (4-3, 1-1) 89-82.

The Ladyjacks returned home after a short one-game road trip that saw SFA shoot their way past conference rival Tarleton State in a commanding 80-67 win on Wednesday evening that saw them knock down 14 three-pointers. This game started with SFA starting right where they left off against Tarleton as Kurstyn Harden continued her strong season getting SFA on the board just 37 seconds in with a nice layup. Less than 30 seconds later, Tyler McCliment-Call showed off her range as she drained a three-pointer and gave SFA an early 5-0 lead. Zoe Nelson sandwiched a layup between a pair of ACU three-pointers and SFA found themselves ahead by a slim 7-6 lead roughly halfway through the first quarter. With SFA leading 11-8 after a pair of Kurstyn Harden free throws, Bella Earle continued the dominant three-point shooting for ACU as she drained the Wildcats third three of the quarter to knot the score back up at 11. The two schools exchanged buckets to remain tied, however, SFA went on a 5-0 run to end the quarter thanks to a pair of free throws from Kyla Deck and Tyler McCliment-Call making her second three of the quarter with less than a minute left to give SFA an 18-13 lead after one.

The second quarter began with SFA getting a quick score as Destini Lombard banked home a layup just four seconds into the quarter to give SFA their largest lead of the game at 20-13. Avery VanSickle continued her strong shooting from beyond the arc as she knocked down her first triple of the game two minutes in the second quarter to snap a 4-0 ACU scoring run and extend SFA's lead back to six at 23-17. However, ACU started to catch on fire shooting from the field midway through the quarter as they went on a 14-2 scoring run to claim their first lead of the game by finding themselves ahead by six of SFA at 31-25. The Ladyjacks would end the second quarter strong as they went on a 4-0 scoring run as Kyla Deck drained another pair of free throws while Kurstyn Harden knocked down a jumper with a minute left in the quarter to keep SFA close and only trailing 31-29 as the two teams headed into the locker rooms.

Coming out of the half, Destini Lombard found her groove and helped spark the SFA offense to begin the second half. Trailing 33-29, Lombard scored five straight points for SFA and then dished out an assist on a Kyla Deck triple and SFA found themselves back in the lead 37-33 just two minutes into the second half. However, this lead would be short lived as ACU responded promptly to the SFA scoring run with a 10-2 scoring run of their own to reclaim their lead 43-39 over SFA with three minutes left in the third. Kyla Deck and Destini Lombard continued their scorching hot quarters for SFA as they hit back-to-back layups to tie the game with ACU right back up at 43 apiece. However, ACU would end the quarter with some strong shooting from the free throw line as they would hit five free throws in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to find themselves back ahead 48-43 at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter saw the Ladyjacks have another fast start as they went on a quick 4-0 run thanks to a pair of layups from Destini Lombard and Kurstyn Harden to pull within a point of ACU once again. These two schools would furiously exchange baskets throughout the fourth as the ACU maintained their lead and saw it grow to as much as five points twice in the quarter, but SFA was not giving up home court advantage without a fight. Trailing 55-50 with five minutes left in game, Destini Lombard helped spark an 8-0 run by SFA as she and Avery VanSickle hit a pair of three-pointers to launch SFA ahead 58-50. With under 30 seconds left in the game and SFA leading 63-61, Payton Hull was able to bank home a layup for her 20^th point of the afternoon and send this game to extra time.

The first extra period saw ACU flip the script as they were the ones to jump out to a quick advantage as Bella Earle and Aspen Thornton helped spark a 7-0 run for the 'Cats to put them ahead 70-63. However, SFA would refuse to give up as Avery VanSickle and Kurstyn Harden helped pull SFA within two points at 70-68. After an Aspen Thornton layup to put ACU back up five 75-70, Kurstyn Harden and Destini Lombard were able to muscle out five points in the final 90 seconds of the first overtime to tie the game. ACU's Bella Earle tried putting SFA away with a buzzer-beater three, but Avery VanSickle came up with arguably the biggest play of the game as she was able to block Earle's attempt and send the game to a second overtime tied at 75.

The second overtime saw these two teams quickly exchange baskets in the first minute to keep the score tied at 77 apiece. Kyla Deck then caught fire for the SFA offense as she rattled off five straight points and led a 9-1 scoring run by SFA as she scored seven of the nine points. ACU was able to cut the SFA lead down to 86-82 with just under a minute remaining to stay within striking distance, however, Avery VanSickle and Tyler McCliment-Call were able to make the most of their free throw attempts as they went a perfect 3/3 from the charity stripe to seal the win and send the Sawmill crowd home happy as they pulled away for an 89-82 double overtime win.

The Ladyjacks got production throughout their lineup as four players recorded double-digit points and seven Ladyjacks total recorded at least a point. The 'Jacks offense was once again led by Kyla Deck who for the second straight game tied her career-high in points with 24 and capped off her dominant performance with a double-double as she pulled down 11 rebounds to also lead the team. Destini Lombard also came close to posting a double-double as she finished second on the team with 18 points, and dished out a team-leading nine assists, and pulled down six rebounds of her own. Kurstyn Harden had another effective and efficient day shooting for SFA as she shot 87.5% from the field and finished the game with 17 points. Avery VanSickle had another strong day shooting from behind the arc for SFA as she drained three three-pointers in route to a 13-point performance and had the massive block at the end of the first overtime to force a second overtime.

SFA had a strong day shooting against ACU as they shot just a hair below 47% from the field while draining seven three-pointers. The Ladyjack defense posted another strong effort against ACU as they totaled double-digit steals with 12, which led to 22 points off turnovers and 17 fast break points. SFA was able to get production from throughout their lineup today as they dished out 18 assists as a team and got solid production from their bench with 15 bench points. Kyla Deck helped lead a strong free throw shooting effort by SFA as she made 11 of the 22 total free throws made by SFA.

The Ladyjacks will stay at home for their next game as they get to square off with University of Portland on Thursday, December 7^th where tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST.