Jan. 26, 2005

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas - Despite a 23-point, 11-rebound effort from junior LaToya Mills, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team lost to Texas-Arlington, 65-63, Wednesday night in Arlington. The Ladyjacks are now 9-8 overall and 3-3 in Southland Conference play.

The Ladyjacks took a 35-31 lead into halftime after shooting 12-22 (.545) from the floor. SFA held its advantavge until the 12:42 mark when UTA outscored the Ladyjacks 11-4 over the next 2:39 to claim a three-point advantage, 48-45. The Ladyjacks went to work on the glass outrebounding the Lady Mavs, 23-19, to hang around.

The Ladyjacks were trailing by only four points, 65-61, when Mills fouled sending her to the free-throw line to shoot two. After hitting her first attempt, Mills missed the second but hustled to get the rebound and draw a foul against the Lady Mavs' Ashely Bobb. Mills went back to the free-throw line where she hit one-of-two to cut the UTA lead to two points, 65-63.

After a missed free-throw by the Lady Mavs' Krystal Buchanan, SFA had 6.5 seconds to set up one final play. The Ladyjacks inbounded the ball to senior Jaliyla Muhammad who drove to the basket but had her shot blocked by UTA's Terra Wallace to preserve the victory.

The Ladyjacks finished the night 22-of-48 (.458) from the floor while holding UTA to a 25-for-59 (.424) performance. The Ladyjacks turned the ball over 18 times which UTA converted into 21 points. SFA forced Texas-Arlington into 10 turnovers, but only one in the second half.

Junior Britany Vinson scored 11 points for SFA on 4-of-10 shooting, Muhammad added nine points, six rebounds and two assists.

The Ladyjacks return to action Thursday Feb. 3, when they return to Nacogdoches to face McNeese State. The game against the Cowgirls is slated to begin at the 6 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.

-SFA-