NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Stephen F. Austin defeated UT Arlington 85-72, Saturday afternoon. SFA improved to 16-3 (6-1) while UTA falls 9-11 (3-5).
The score was tied three times in the first quarter as the teams traded blows, but the Ladyjacks came out on top 25-20. UTA continued to fight in the second quarter, but SFA took the lead with 6:31 left in the first quarter and went into halftime with a 48-40 lead. The Ladyjacks scored the first three points of the third quarter to extend their lead to 11, and hovered around the double digit lead mark until UTA scored the final two buckets of the quarter to cut the lead down to five, 64-59. SFA started the fourth with a 6-0 spurt to regain their 11 point lead. The Ladyjacks continued to fight off the Mavericks while maintaining their lead for the rest of the game.
SFA led UTA in multiple stat categories; points off turnovers (19-18), fast break (22-14), bench points (34-7), field goal percentage (53.7-39.1), and three-point percentage (35.0-14.3). Aiyana Johnson led the team with 19 points which is her sixth game in a row with double-digit points. Johnson was followed by Destini Lombard who scored a career-high 18 points, and Jordan Harrison scored 15 points. Zoe Nelson led the team with 11 rebounds which ties her career-high, followed by Johnson and Avery Brittingham who each recorded five. Harrison once again led the Ladyjacks with eight assists, followed by Angel Scott who recorded six which ties her career-high. Scott also led SFA with four steals which is the fourth time this season she has recorded four steals in a single game.
The Ladyjacks will hit the road next week for a Thursday night matchup with the Sam Houston Bearkats. The Battle of the Piney Woods tips off at 6:30 p.m. in Huntsville.
