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    SFA Goes on the Road to Battle No. 12 Texas A&M
    Ladyjacks close out non-conference slate against Big 12 opponent
    Sophomore Whitney Cormier
    Sophomore Whitney Cormier

    Jan. 3, 2008

    The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks will close out the non-conference slate when they open 2008 Thursday in College Station, Texas, against No. 12 (ESPN/USA Today Women's Top 25 Poll) Texas A&M. The Ladyjacks (3-8) head to College Station looking to put an end to a three-game skid. Texas A&M is 13-2 (.867) on the season and enters the game having won its last three. The game against the Aggies is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from Reed Arena.

    The Ladyjacks are an impressive 13-2 (.867) all-time against Texas A&M, but the Aggies have won two of the past three meetings. The series dates back to the 1976-77 season where the Ladyjacks won the first 12 contests. SFA won the last meeting between the teams, when it recorded an 82-73 decision during the 1997-98 season.

    The Ladyjacks will be facing a former coach Thursday when they invade Reed Arena. Current Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair spent eight seasons in Nacogdoches where he accumulated a 210-43 (.830) overall record, and guided SFA to six consecutive NCAA appearances. Current Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley served under Blair during the 1992-93 season when SFA went 28-5 (.848) and finished ranked 12th in the country.

    Senior Nikki Carr has set the pace for the SFA offense over the course past few weeks. After scoring only six points in the season opener, Carr has responded by scoring in double figures in each of the team's past 10 games. During that time she has recorded a double-double, and scored at least 20 points on two separate occasions, including a career-high 25 points against Missouri. Carr currently leads the team in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounding (6.4 rpg), assists (4.1 apg), steals (3.5 spg) and blocks.

    Freshman forward Jordan Ford scored 13 points in the game at Tulsa. It marked the fourth time this season the rookie has netted double figures, and it is her highest output since scoring a career-high 25 points in the victory against Grambling State.

    After slow a start, sophomore Whitney Cormier has shed the struggles of a sophomore jinx, and has returned to the form that made her one of the league's top rookies last season. Cormier has scored in double figures in four of the team's past five games and has recorded two double-doubles during that stretch. She is averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds during that time.

    The Ladyjacks return to the William R. Johnson Coliseum to open Southland Conference play Thursday, Jan. 10, when they host Nicholls State. The game against the Lady Colonels is slated to begin at 7 p.m. SFA will return to action two days later when they host Southeastern Louisiana. The game against the Lady Lions is slated to begin at 6 p.m.