Faith Blackstone Drops 26 and Leads Ladyjacks to Double Overtime Victory Over Aztecs

Thursday, December 19

San Diego, CA

5:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-2,1-1Southland

San Diego State University

10-2,0-0Mountain West

OT 1

OT 2

SFA

San Diego St.

Faith Blackstone Drops 26 and Leads Ladyjacks to Double Overtime Victory Over Aztecs

12/19/2024 10:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (9-2, 1-1 SLC) traveled to sunny California for the San Diego Classic to face off against host San Diego State Aztecs (10-2, 0-0 MW).

The Ladyjacks jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with two free throws from Trinity Moore and a jumper from Faith Blackstone. The Aztecs hit a three to cut the lead down to one with 8:30 left in the first quarter. Two minutes later, Moore hit a three to extend the 'Jacks lead to four, 9-5. With 6:49 left in the first, Moore hit another three-pointer to give SFA a seven-point lead, 12-5. SDSU responded with a three of their own to stop the 'Jacks run, 14-8. Both teams traded blows for the rest of the quarter, but SFA maintained their advantage and ended the quarter with a 21-17 lead.

SFA started the second quarter on a 5-2 run to bring the lead up back up to seven, 26-19. SDSU responded with a four-point spurt to cut the deficit down to three, 26-23. Four layups in a row from four different Ladyjacks gave SFA an 11-point lead with 5:04 left in the first half. The Aztecs went on a 6-0 run, but Blackstone stopped that run with a three-pointer, 37-29. However, SDSU would not be denied as they went on a nine-point run to take a slim 38-37 lead with 29 seconds left in the first half. Avery Vansickle and Harmanie Dominguez knocked down two free throws each and the 'Jacks took a 41-38 lead into the locker room.

A layup from Moore got the 'Jacks on the board in the third before the Aztecs went on a 6-0 spurt to retake a one-point lead, 44-43. SFA responded with a 6-0 run of their own to take a 51-46 lead with 3:08 left in the third. SDSU made a three-pointer, but SFA responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Dominguez and Ituau Tuisaula, 57-49. SDSU would knock down another three, but SFA went into the fourth quarter with a 57-52 lead.

Both teams traded layups to begin the fourth quarter, but the Aztecs drained another three to cut the deficit down to two, 59-57. Moore made another three-pointer then Ashlyn Traylor-Walker followed up with a jumper to put the 'Jacks ahead 66-60 with 2:58 left in the fourth. SDSU responded with a 5-2 spurt to bring the lead down to three. Hope LeMelle went up for a layup to ice the game, but was called for a charge which gave SDSU a chance to tie the game. With nine seconds left, the Aztecs tied the game with a three-pointer and sent the game to overtime.

Neither team was willing to give an inch in overtime as the margin was held within three points for the first half of the five-minute overtime period. With 2:59 left in the first overtime, the Aztecs knocked down another three to take a 75-71 lead. Two free throws from Key Roseby and a three-pointer from VanSickle put the 'Jacks back up 76-75 with 1:04 left. SDSU would make a free throw to tie the game and send the game to a second overtime.

SFA turned on the jets in the second overtime period as they started on a 6-2 spurt to take an 82-78 lead with 3:27 left in the second overtime. A jumper from SDSU would stop the run for SFA, but their offense would not be denied as they went on a seven-point run to finish out the game with clutch free throws from Moore, Blackstone and VanSickle. The Aztecs suffered their first home loss of the season to the Ladyjacks who won their first game of the San Diego Classic, 89-80 in double overtime.

Top Players of the Match:

• Faith Blackstone: 26 points (led team & new DI career high), 11-14 FT, five rebounds, three assists (tied team lead)
• Trinity Moore: 17 points, 3 three-pointers (led team), nine rebounds, (led team), three blocks
• Avery VanSickle: 15 points, five rebounds, two steals (tied team lead), two assists
• Ashlyn Traylor-Walker: 15 points, four blocks (led team), three assists (tied team lead), two steals (tied team lead)
• Key Roseby: six points, six rebounds

TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Women's Basketball at William R. Johnson this winter! Season tickets and single game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.

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