Ladyjacks Outlast Texans in WAC Quarterfinals

Thursday, March 14

Las Vegas, NV

4:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

21-11,14-6WAC

Tarleton State University

11-20,7-13WAC

Tarleton St.

SFA

Ladyjacks Outlast Texans in WAC Quarterfinals

3/14/2024 7:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

LAS VEGAS, NV. - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team (21-11, 15-6) handily beat the Tarleton Texans (11-20, 7-14) in a win-or-go home game for both schools as SFA will advance to the WAC Tournament semifinals for a date with the Grand Canyon Lopes tomorrow afternoon.

The first quarter saw the Texans get the scoring started early as they rattled off the first four points of the game, however, Kurstyn Harden as she has done all season long got the scoring started for SFA with a layup and SFA trailed 4-2 three minutes into the first. Harden's basket helped spark an explosive SFA offense that went on a 9-2 scoring run thanks to points from Harden, Kyla Deck, Destini Lombard, and a three-pointer from Mele Finau to put SFA in the lead for the first time at 9-6 halfway through the first. The remainder of the first offered a back-and-forth defensive battle waged between the two teams as neither team would score until the final 90 seconds when would make a free-throw to make it 10-6 SFA. Following a Tarleton basket, Kyla Deck would cap off her solid first quarter with a driving layup with 15 seconds left to keep SFA ahead 12-8, however, the Texans took full advantage of the final 15 seconds as they drove down the court and made a buzzer beater layup to only trail 12-10 after one full quarter of play.

The Ladyjacks wasted no time extending their lead in the second quarter as over the first half the second quarter, the Ladyjacks went on a 15-1 scoring run to take a 25-11 lead halfway through the second. The run got started thanks to a Tyler McCliment-Call steal defensively, which resulted in a Destini Lombard fastbreak layup to put SFA ahead 14-11. Following a Tarleton free-throw, Mele Finau pulled down an offensive rebound and banked it home for a second chance layup and SFA led 18-11, which was moved to 22-11 thanks to a layup from Trinity Moore and a steal by Avery VanSickle defensively which led to another Destini Lombard fastbreak layup. With just over three minutes left in the quarter, Destini Lombard continued her strong quarter as she drove into the paint and was able to draw a foul, getting the basket to go, and draining the free-throw to complete the three-point play and put SFA ahead 25-11 with under three minutes remaining. The final three minutes saw the schools exchange points almost evenly as points from Trinity Moore, and Kurstyn Harden as well as a three-pointer from Kyla Deck were cancelled out by the Texans, however, SFA still held a 10-point lead 32-22 at the half.

The Texans struck first out of the locker rooms to cut the SFA lead to 32-24, but Tyler McCliment-Call answered right back for SFA with her first triple of the game to keep SFA ahead by double-digits at 35-24. Midway through the third, it became the Kurstyn Harden show once again for SFA as she would rattle off four straight points, combined with a Mele Finau basket to maintain SFA's 11-point lead at 43-32 lead halfway through the third. Following an Elise Turrubiates basket for Tarleton, the 'Jacks would embark on a 7-0 scoring run thanks to points from Kurstyn Harden, Destini Lombard, and Kyla Deck to extend the SFA to the largest of the game to that point at 48-32 with three minutes remaining in the third. However, the Texans would promptly respond with a 7-0 scoring run of their own to trim the SFA lead down to single digits at 48-39 with two minutes remaining. The final two minutes saw Kyla Deck and Tyler McCliment-Call combine to score the final five SFA points of the quarter to offset a pair of layups by Tarleton as SFA still maintained their 10-point lead 53-43 heading into the final quarter of play.

The Kurstyn Harden show would cruise into the fourth quarter as she would continue to dominate the Texans defense, scoring the first six points for SFA in the fourth to help spark an 8-0 run by SFA to begin the quarter and move their lead to 61-43. Harden would proceed to drain three straight free-throws to help limit seven points from Tarleton, as the 'Jacks still held a 64-50 lead with three minutes remaining and SFA inching ever closer to a date with GCU in the WAC semifinals. Kyla Deck, Kurstyn Harden, and Destini Lombard would put their stamps of approval on this win as each recorded a basket over the final three minutes to push SFA to a comfortable 70 points for the day and ice away the win over Tarleton, as the Ladyjacks cruised to a 70-58 win over the Texans.

Kurstyn Harden has become the definition of consistency for SFA as she has now posted 20+ points in six straight games as she continues to power the SFA offense to wins on the biggest stages. Harden imposed her will on the Texans defense all game today as she scored 25 points to lead all of SFA, while pulling down five rebounds, adding one block and two steals defensively. Destini Lombard and Kyla Deck continue to form a dynamic duo for SFA both offensively and defensively as Lombard stuffed the statsheet today with 15 points, seven rebounds, led the team with eight assists, and recorded a team-high six steals. Meanwhile, Deck was not to be outdone by Lombard as she finished today with 14 points, one assist, one rebound, along with one block and two steals defensively. Mele Finau and Tyler McCliment-Call formed a strong three-point shooting duo as they combined for 12 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and three steals against the Texans.

The Ladyjacks knocked down 25 shots today, needing only three pointers, while making 17 free-throws as the defense did most of the heavy lifting for SFA today limiting the Texans to just 58 points. SFA turned 16 steals and four blocks into 22 points off turnovers, while Kurstyn Harden helped lead a 42 points in the paint effort by SFA, and the Ladyjack transition offense scored 19 fast break points. The Ladyjacks were able to set the tone of the game early and stick to their gameplan as they never trailed after the first quarter, holding the lead for over 34 minutes of the game, and played an extremely clean game of basketball as they committed just nine turnovers in the win.

The Ladyjacks season will continue for another game as they will get set for a third meeting with the Grand Canyon Lopes this season, with SFA winning the two previous meetings this season between the two schools. Tip-off for tomorrow's game between the two WAC powerhouses is set for 2:30 p.m. CST, with the game being available to stream on ESPN+ and live stats available through the SFA athletics website.