Ladyjacks Defeat Wildcats as Brittingham Records Her Second Double-Double

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Stephen F. Austin defeated Abilene Christian, 83-78 Saturday afternoon. SFA improves to 11-2 (1-0 WAC) while ACU falls to 7-6 (1-1 WAC).

After 11 days the Ladyjacks were back on the court to start conference play against the Wildcats. Both teams struggled to find their offensive rhythm early as the first points of the game came with 8:44 left in the first quarter. The game was tied at 16 with a minute and a half to go until Destini Lombard hit a three-pointer to give SFA a 19-16 lead at the quarter break. ACU was able to take the lead back and build it to a five-point lead due to their three point shooting in the second quarter. The Wildcats were 5-7 from behind the arc in the second quarter and held a four point lead at halftime, 41-37.

The teams exchanged blows throughout the third quarter and ACU was able to hang in there with some timely foul calls and successful free throw shooting. The Ladyjacks were able to build their lead to nine points with a minute left in the third and finished the quarter with an eight point lead, 64-56. In the fourth quarter it was all SFA as the Ladyjacks continued to extend their lead. Kyla Deck went off in the fourth quarter as she scored 11 points including three consecutive three-pointers in a little over a minute which helped propel the Ladyjacks to an 83-78 victory.

SFA led ACU in several stat categories including; second chance points (15-5), bench points (33-11), points in the paint (40-28), fast break points (16-10), field goal percentage (53.8-43.3), three-point percentage (72.7-40.7), and free throw percentage (82.6-65.2). Avery Brittingham recorded her second double-double of the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Deck finished ahead of Brittingham with 18 points. Tyler McCliment-Call grabbed seven rebounds and was one of four Ladyjacks scoring double-digit points with 12. Jordan Harrison joined Brittingham, Deck and McCliment-Call in the double-digit club with 14 points. Harrison also led the team with three steals and five assists.

The Ladyjacks first game of 2023 will be in the William R. Johnson Coliseum against Utah Tech on January 5th at 6:30 p.m.