Ladyjacks Dethrone Governors with Late Rally

Thursday, December 21

Clarksville, TN

2:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

7-5,2-0WAC

Austin Peay State University

6-7,0-0ASUN

SFA

Austin Peay

Ladyjacks Dethrone Governors with Late Rally

12/21/2023 8:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (7-5, 2-0) completes a come-from-behind win over the Austin Peay Governors (6-7, 0-0) as they outscore the Governors 24-5 in the fourth quarter and snap Austin Peay's three-game win streak in a 66-56 win in the finale of the Austin Peay Classic.

SFA saw their opponent firing on all cylinders for the second straight day as Austin Peay came out red hot to begin the game as they rattled off the first nine points of the game and held an early 9-0 lead. Zoe Nelson ended the Governors scoring stretch as she banked home a layup for the 'Jacks to get SFA on the board and trailing 9-2. However, Austin Peay would not take long to regain their stride as they would go on a quick 8-2 run and found themselves in control 17-4 halfway through the first quarter. After a Trinity Moore second chance put-back layup got SFA to within 11, the Governors Anala Nelson responded with a jumper of her own and Austin Peay maintained their 13-point lead at 19-6. However, SFA would end the first on a strong note as they would score all the remaining points as they went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter thanks to strong play in the low post as Destini Lombard, Kurstyn Harden, and Zoe Nelson all recorded baskets in the paint and pulled SFA to within six points after one at 19-13.

While SFA may have scored the final points of the first quarter, Austin Peay would start the second quarter similar to the way they started the first as they would claim the first three points in the second and held a 22-13 lead. However, SFA quickly regained their shooting form from the end of the first as the SFA defense helped spark a 7-0 run. After a Zoe Nelson bucket got SFA within seven points, Destini Lombard recorded a steal and took it coast to coast for the 'Jacks, which was followed shortly after by Kyla Deck finding Avery VanSickle for a three-pointer and the Ladyjacks found themselves down just two points at 22-20. After an Abby Carter jumper pushed Austin Peay back to a four-point lead, Kyla Deck continued her strong quarter as she dished out a pair of assists as she found Zoe Nelson for a three-pointer, which was followed up with Deck finding Destini Lombard for a layup on a fast break and SFA held their first lead of the game 25-24 halfway through the second. The 'Jacks grew their lead to three points at 27-24 as Zoe Nelson splashed another basket, however, the Governors would be the ones to end the quarter on a strong note this time as they scored the final nine points and held a 33-27 lead as the two teams headed into the locker rooms.

Tyler McCliment-Call started the second half strong as she hit a three-pointer to get SFA on the board first and recorded her first points of the game. However, Austin Peay would have an answer to the SFA three-pointer as they would hit a pair of three-pointers to go back up by nine at 39-30. Destini Lombard knocked down a pair of shots as SFA traded buckets with the Governors and SFA trailed 40-34, before the Governors caught fire from downtown once again as they hit back-to-back three-pointers and extended their lead to 12 points at 46-34 halfway through the third quarter. Trinity Moore would get subbed in off the bench and made her presence felt immediately as she muscled her way into the paint and drew a foul while draining the basket to draw a three-point play which she completed with the free-throw to cut the Governor lead to 46-37. These two schools would trade baskets in the final two minutes as Trinity Moore and Kurstyn Harden combined to score the final five points of the quarter for SFA while Austin Peay would hit three free-throws and maintained their lead at 51-42 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter saw SFA come out with a purpose and a sense of urgency as they looked to end their three-game losing streak. Zoe Nelson would score her first points of the second half as she would hit a jump shot to pull SFA within seven at 51-44. The defensive ability of Kyla Deck was on display early in the fourth as she recorded a steal on the next Austin Peay possession and laid home a driving layup off an assist from Tyler McCliment-Call to cut the Governors lead back down to five at 51-46. After a La'nya Foster jumper pushed Austin Peay back up by seven points, the Ladyjacks took complete control of the rest of the fourth quarter as they dominated Austin Peay over the final eight minutes. Tyler McCliment-Call became an unstoppable force for the Ladyjacks as she hit a pair of three-pointers and scored eight straight points to help spark a massive 18-2 scoring run by SFA. After McCliment-Call's second three-pointer, SFA held a 56-55 lead, which quickly turned into a four-point lead thanks to Kyla Deck getting in on the three-point action with a triple of her own. Destini Lombard continued her strong defensive game with a steal on the next Governors possession which turned into a fastbreak layup for Zoe Nelson to put SFA up 61-55. Deck would drain three straight free-throws and the 'Jacks found themselves ahead 64-55 with under two minutes left. Abby Carter would score the only point for the Governors in the final two minutes with a free-throw, before Deck put the icing on the cake for the comeback victory for SFA as she drained two more free-throws with 30 seconds left to give SFA a 10-point lead and secure the come-from-behind victory 66-56.

Zoe Nelson led all Ladyjacks players with 15 points as she was one of four 'Jacks to finish in double-digits tonight while also adding five rebounds and two steals. Tyler McCliment-Call finished with 11 points as she drained a team-high three three-pointers to help spark the critical fourth quarter rally from SFA, while pulling down five rebounds, dishing out two assists, and recording a pair of steals. As part of her 11-point performance tonight, Tyler McCliment-Call has surpassed the 500-career point milestone. Destini Lombard stuffed the stat sheet against the Governors as she finished with 10 points, three rebounds, four assists, and led the team with four steals. Kyla Deck made her return to the SFA lineup tonight and made sure her presence was felt as she finished with 10 points, five rebounds, led the team with five assists, while also adding two steals. Kurstyn Harden led the team with six rebounds, while shooting a perfect four for four from the charity stripe. All five Ladyjack starters recorded at least one rebound, one assist, and one steal tonight as they got production from the entire team to end the tournament on a high note.

SFA led Austin Peay in a number of key categories which helped spark their late rally, SFA led the Governors in free throw percentage (77%-75%), points off turnovers (21-14), rebounds (33-27), offensive rebounds (12-5), second-chance points (14-2), points in the paint (36-24), fast break points (9-4), blocks (3-1), steals (14-7), and assists (16-7). Despite the fact Austin Peay held the lead for almost 33 minutes of the game, the Ladyjacks saved their best for last as they held the lead over the final four minutes when it mattered to seal the comeback win.

Stephen F. Austin will carry a 7-5 overall record with them back home, as they will get a mini bye week for the Christmas holidays before returning to action on Saturday, December 30th at home in the Sawmill against UNT-Dallas at 1:00 p.m. CST.