Ladyjacks Make it Rain as They Overwhelm Wolverines

Saturday, February 24

Nacogdoches, TX

2:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

18-9,12-4WAC

Utah Valley University

9-17,4-13WAC

Utah Valley

SFA

Ladyjacks Make it Rain as They Overwhelm Wolverines

2/24/2024 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (18-9, 12-4) took the lead early in the first quarter and never looked back as another career setting day from Avery VanSickle helped SFA blow the doors off the Utah Valley Wolverines (9-17, 4-13) with an 84-35 win for their third consecutive win and second straight at home.

SFA came into Saturday afternoon's match-up looking to extend their win streak to three games while looking to sweep the regular season series against Utah Valley. Kurstyn Harden wasted no time getting the scoring started in this one as she would hit a turn-around hook shot for SFA less than 45 seconds into the opening quarter to get SFA an early 2-0 lead. Destini Lombard and Kurstyn Harden would do all the scoring early for SFA as they combined to score the first 10 Ladyjack points of the afternoon and Stephen F. Austin held a slim 10-6 lead with three minutes left in the first. However, the Ladyjacks fresh off a commanding win over Seattle, took control for the remainder of the first as they would end the opening quarter on a 8-0 scoring run thanks to three-pointers from Mele Finau and Avery Vansickle, who is fresh off a career-high 18 points against Seattle, before Kurstyn Harden knocked down her fourth bucket of the quarter with 15 seconds left to give the 'Jacks a commanding 18-6 lead after the first.

The second quarter was opened up with none other than Kurstyn Harden who fought her way into the paint and was able to draw a foul while making the basket and free-throw to complete the three-point play and extend SFA's lead to 21-6. Harden would help spark a 12-2 scoring run for SFA to begin the second quarter thanks to five points from Avery VanSickle, and buckets from Harden and Tyler McCliment-Call to stake SFA to a 30-8 lead halfway through the second. Following a Tessa Chaney layup for the Wolverines, Avery VanSickle continued her absolute tear from beyond the arc as she drained her second triple of the quarter and third of the game to maintain SFA's lead at 33-10. The Wolverines would go a 6-0 scoring run to try and close the massive SFA lead, however, the Ladyjacks once again had a response for Utah Valley as they would end the second quarter on a 7-2 scoring run thanks to Mele Finau's second triple of the game, and free-throws from VanSickle, Finau, and a pair from Harden to send SFA into the locker rooms with a comfortable 40-18 lead. Harden and VanSickle combined for 27 of the 40 SFA points in the first half as they shot a combined 9-14 from the field.

Kurstyn Harden opened up the scoring for the second half as she continued to have her way in the paint as she was able to drive down low and draw a foul, draining both free-throws to give SFA a 42-18 lead. Harden's scoring would once again inspire the entire SFA offense as they would embark on a 9-2 scoring run to begin the third quarter thanks to buckets from Tyler McCliment-Call, Lydia Cooke-Wiggins, and the scoring run capped off by another three-pointer from Mele Finau to move SFA's lead to over 30 points at 49-18. Following a 5-0 scoring run by the Wolverines, Mele Finau continued her dynamic shooting as she drained her second triple of the quarter to keep SFA's lead over 30 at 52-21 halfway through the third. Over the next two minutes, the two schools exchanged baskets before Avery VanSickle continued to be unstoppable from downtown as she knocked down yet another SFA three-pointer to move SFA's lead to 59-27. The final two minutes saw SFA end the quarter on a 6-2 scoring run thanks to a three-point play from Tyler McCliment-Call, and Avery VanSickle knocking down a three-pointer with two seconds left to put SFA in the driver's seat 65-29 heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter saw Tyler McCliment-Call get into the three-point action as she drained her first of the game 15 seconds into the fourth to give SFA a 68-29 lead. McCliment-Call's three-pointer helped spark an 8-0 scoring run that saw Kurstyn Harden surpass the 20-point mark with a layup, while Mele Finau drained her fifth triple of the day to push the SFA lead even further at 73-29. The remainder of the fourth quarter saw the teams exchange baskets evenly with SFA still maintaining their comfortable lead, highlighted by Avery VanSickle hitting the 20-point mark with a layup with two minutes left to give SFA a 76-33 lead with two minutes left. The final two minutes saw SFA continue what they had done all day which is score points in bunches as they ended the game on a 6-0 scoring run thanks to points from Lydia Cooke-Wiggins, Atalia Ballesteros, and Avery VanSickle once more to surpass the 80-point mark for SFA and give them an 82-33 lead. Avery VanSickle would put the exclamation point on her career afternoon as she would drain one more basket for SFA to close out scoring for this one as SFA came away with an 84-35 win over the Wolverines.

Plenty of Ladyjacks got into the scoring frenzy today to help SFA cruise past the Wolverines with ease. Avery VanSickle continues her insane scoring tear as just one game after setting a career-high in points with 18 against Seattle, VanSickle took it one step further today as she posted a new career-high with 24 points against Utah Valley to lead all Ladyjacks. VanSickle's day was highlighted by five three-pointers, a career-high seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Three other Ladyjacks scored in double figures today as Kurstyn Harden posted 21 points to mark her fourth time in her last six games where Harden has scored at least 20. Harden completed her seventh double-double of the season as she crashed the boards all afternoon and pulled down a team-leading 10 rebounds while adding three assists, one block, and two steals to her dominating afternoon. Mele Finau was just as hot from downtown as VanSickle as she tied VanSickle with five triples of her own, shooting over 70% from beyond the arc, to post her second consecutive game scoring in double-digits as she finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Tyler McCliment-Call rounded out the top four for SFA as she posted her third straight game with double-digit points as she finished today's game with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Lydia Cooke-Wiggins and Destini Lombard played fantastic complementary basketball today as they combined for 10 points, dished out 10 combined assists, six steals, and one block.

The Ladyjack offense is finding their stride at exactly the right time as they shot over 47% from the field for the third consecutive game, knocking down 29 field goals today and finishing with a 47.5% field goal percentage. However, it was the 'Jacks three-point shooting that stole the show today as they drained 11 shots from beyond the arc, marking the third highest total for a single game this season and the fifth time this season they have made double-digit three-pointers in a game. SFA put the cherry on top of their dominant offensive showcase by shooting 83% from the foul line, marking their third straight game over 80% from the free-throw line. The SFA offense has now scored at least 84 points in three straight games as they continue their dominance at home where they sport a 11-3 record for the season.

The Ladyjack defense helped to ensure SFA never trailed in this game as they held the Wolverines to just 35 points, which is the fewest points allowed by SFA all season, and the fewest they've allowed since they beat Our Lady of the Lake 90-31 on December 4th, 2021. SFA held the lead for over 90% of the contest and at one point held a 51-point lead at 84-33. A large part of SFA's dominating defensive performance was the 13 steals and four blocks they combined for as a team, led by Destini Lombard who recorded five steals of her own as Lombard has now recorded 10 steals in her last two games. The Ladyjacks defense converted those 17 turnovers into 25 points off turnovers, while Kurstyn Harden helped lead the low post scoring effort which saw the 'Jacks finish with 34 points in the paint. Meanwhile, SFA recorded double-digit offensive rebounds for the fourth time in their last five games, as they finished today with 15 offensive boards, which were converted into 13 second chance points.

The Ladyjacks will need to maintain the energy and confidence they've gained from their last three games as they get set for a critical home match-up next Thursday, February 29th when they host the CBU Lancers looking to avenge a loss earlier this season to the Lancers. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST at the Sawmill for Thursday evening.