Jan. 6, 2005

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team rallied from a 21-3 deficit to defeat rival Northwestern State, 58-55, in their Southland Conference opener Thursday night at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks are now 7-5 (.583) on the season and 0-1 in league play.

The Ladyjacks were stone cold to start the game missing 15 of their first 16 shots and fell behind Northwestern State, 21-3, with 11:47 remaining in the first half. The Ladyjacks shot only six percent from the floor in the first 8:13 of the game, while the Lady Demons roared out to an 18-point advantage going 12-of-31 (.387) from the floor in the first half. But the Ladyjacks didn't panic and slowly began to chip away at the Northwestern State lead.

The Ladyjacks went on a 14-3 run midway through the first half to cut the lead to 10 points, 26-16, at the 7:40 mark. Junior Britany Vinson was the catalyst for the rally scoring eight points and knocking down two big three pointers. SFA managed to cut the lead to six points, 30-24, heading into halftime.

SFA opened the second half with a 5-0 run to claim its first lead of the game, 35-34, with 14:54 remaining. But it didn't last long as the Lady Demons' Diamond Cosby scored a game-high 18 points as Northwestern State forged its way back in front by eight points.

The Ladyjacks fought back again riding the back posts Stacey Szymanski and Kendria Smith. Szymanski was 6-of-8 (.750) from the floor and scored all 12 of her points in the second half to pace the Ladyjacks as they jumped back in front, 49-48 with 3:59 remaining. Smith added eight points and four rebounds as SFA went up by five late.

The Ladyjacks hit their free throws down the stretch to pick up their first victory over Northwestern State in their last three games.

The Ladyjacks return to action Thursday Jan. 13, when they travel to Monroe, La., to take on the Lady Indians. The game against ULM is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m., from the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

-SFA-