Four Ladyjacks Record Double-Doubles in Dominating Win

Saturday, December 30

Nacogdoches, TX

1:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

8-5,2-0WAC

111

UNT Dallas

0-4

North Texas-Dallas

SFA

111

Four Ladyjacks Record Double-Doubles in Dominating Win

12/30/2023 4:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (8-5, 2-0) dismantled the UNT-Dallas Trailblazers (1-4, 1-4) from start to finish as they cruise to a 111-38 home victory to conclude their non-conference schedule.

SFA came into this game off a mini-bye and the rest seemed to serve the Ladyjacks well as they came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter. Kayla James scored the first points of the game as she would bank home a layup for UNT-Dallas, however that would be the only scoring for the Trailblazers in the first until the final 30 seconds. Zoe Nelson would get the scoring spree started for SFA as she would knock down a jumper off a pass from Tyler McCliment-Call and tie the game at two apiece. The Ladyjacks would then take complete control of the remainder of the first as they showed no mercy as they would go on a 30-0 scoring run in the first quarter. The Ladyjacks got scoring from all over the court as they got points in the paint, from the free-throw line and knocked down four three-pointers courtesy of Tyler McCliment-Call, Lydia Cooke-Wiggins, and two from Destini Lombard to leap ahead of the Trailblazers 32-4 at the end of the first. The Ladyjacks shot over 50% from the field for the quarter and shot 50% from beyond the arc as they made a statement to begin the game.

These two schools would exchange a pair of baskets in the first three minutes of the second before SFA would find their groove once again. The Ladyjacks would go on a 13-2 run midway through the second quarter which was fueled by five points from Kurstyn Harden who would go 3/3 from the charity stripe, while Trinity Moore would hit a pair of jumpers as the two combined to score nine of the 13 points in the run. However, the Trailblazers would end the quarter on a strong note as they scored five of the final nine points of the quarter and did not allow SFA to make a basket in the final three minutes, however, the 'Jacks still held a commanding 55-17 lead at halftime.

The Trailblazers came out of the locker rooms strong to begin the second half as they carried over their scoring from the second quarter by beginning the second half scoring six of the first 10 points in the second half. Leading 59-23, the Ladyjack offense continued to pour on the points at home as the Ladyjacks strong three-point shooting continued as they would go on a 11-3 scoring run thanks to three-pointers from Trinity Moore and Destini Lombard, while Tyler McCliment-Call and Kurstyn Harden continued their strong games as both would make layups during the scoring run. With four minutes left in the third quarter, Atalia Ballesteros threw her name into the scoring hat as she would score four straight points to push the SFA lead to 75-26. Jasmyne Boles would follow suit with Ballesteros by scoring three straight points of her own off an and-one play and SFA found themselves with triple the points of the Trailblazers at 78-26. Destini Lombard would knock down her second triple of the quarter to close out the scoring for the third quarter and SFA found themselves in complete control heading into the final quarter at 83-26.

SFA started the fourth scoring by continuing their scoring dominance as they scored eight of the first 10 points in the quarter, as Trinity Moore and Kurstyn Harden each recorded a pair of baskets and led 90-28. Atalia Ballesteros and Tyler McCliment-Call continued the strong shooting from downtown into the fourth quarter as they would each make a triple to push SFA over the century mark as McCliment-Call's second three-pointer of the day pushed SFA to an 101-34 lead. Trinity Moore would join the three-point party as she would make one of her own thirty seconds later. McCliment-Call would conclude the SFA scoring for the day with her third triple of the game and push SFA to 111 points for the game, their second highest mark of the season and the second time they've surpassed the century mark this season.

It was a selfless day of scoring for the Ladyjacks as seven different players finished in double-digit points. Tyler McCliment-Call played her best game of the season as she stuffed the stat sheet by leading all Ladyjacks in scoring with 19 points while securing a double-double by hauling down 12 rebounds and finishing second on the team in assists with six and leading the team with four steals. Destini Lombard continues her strong season as she finished second on the team in scoring with 18 points, while dishing out five assists, and recording three steals, while leading the team with four three-pointers. As part of her three-steal performance, Lombard surpassed the 100-career steal milestone. Trinity Moore joined the double-double party as she recorded one as well with her 17-point, 11-rebound performance. Kurstyn Harden was the third Ladyjack to record a double-double as she finished with 16 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds. Zoe Nelson and Atalia Ballesteros teamed up to form a dynamic duo today as they combined for 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Lydia Cooke-Wiggins was the fourth Ladyjack to finish with a double-double as she provided plenty of scoring opportunities for SFA today as she finished with 10 points and led the team with an impressive 11 assists.

SFA had a strong day of shooting as they shot over 50% from the field for the game, while draining 12 three-pointers which was their second highest total this season in that category. The Ladyjacks put the cherry on top as they completed the strong shooting trifecta by going over 80% from the free-throw line. The Ladyjack defense dominated the entire day as they made life difficult for the Trailblazers by recording 16 steals and four blocks. SFA led UNT-Dallas in rebounds (58-29), assists (29-6), bench points (34-18), fast break points (20-7), steals (16-7), points off turnovers (42-5), points in the paint (50-24), and second chance points (25-2).

Stephen F. Austin will carry an 8-5 overall record into their next game as they get set to continue conference play against the UTRGV Vaqueros at the Sawmill on Thursday, January 4th at 6:30 p.m. CST.