Stephen F. Austin

Feb. 24, 2005

NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team will look to rebound from a disappointing 62-60 loss at the hands of the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions Saturday night. After fighting back from a 21-point deficit, SFA took its first lead of the game with 10 seconds on the clock as senior Alex Bowman hit a jumper in the lane to put the Ladyjacks up by a point. But the comeback was completely erased off the board when the Lady Lions hit a three-pointer as time ran out to ice the victory. The loss dropped the Ladyjacks to 12-11 (.522) on the season and 6-6 (.500) in Southland Conference play. The Ladyjacks will look to get back on the winning track Thursday night as they host league-leading Texas-Arlington. The game is slated to begin at 6 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks will then hit the road on Saturday as they travel to Natchitoches, La., for a 2 p.m., showdown against Northwestern State in Prather Coliseum.

SFA vs. the Lady Mavs: The Ladyjacks are 40-7 (.851) all-time against Texas-Arlington and have won nine of the last 13 meetings, but SFA has had its share of struggles lately against the Lady Mavs. The Ladyjacks have now lost three consecutive games, and four of the last five. But all of those losses have come on the road. SFA defeated Texas-Arlington, 58-54, last season in the William R. Johnson Coliseum.

Home Sweet Home: The Ladyjacks are one of the nation's all-time winningest teams at home, with an all-time record of 331-83 (.800). The Ladyjacks have now won 65 of their last 79 games at home and are 8-2 (.800) in the William R. Johnson Coliseum this year.

The SLC Scenario: The Ladyjacks enter the final two weeks of the regular season with a 6-6 (.500) Southland Conference record and currently in a two-way tie for sixth in the league with McNeese State. SFA still has an outside shot at winning a share of the SLC regular-season title. SFA would need to win out and hope that Texas-Arlington loses its four remaining contests. If the Ladyjacks win their four final games, they could still earn the second seed in the tournament but that would require Louisiana-Monroe to drop all four of its remaining games, Texas State to lose at least two of its final three and Northwestern State to lose at least three of its four remaining games. The Ladyjacks need just two more victories to lock up a spot in the 2005 SLC Tournament.

Senior Leadership: Senior Stacey Szymanski led the Ladyjacks with 17 points and seven rebounds at McNeese State. It marked the first time in the last seven games that Szymanski has scored in double figures. After averaging only 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds over the previous six games, Szymanski is now averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in her last two games.

Great Brit: Junior Britany Vinson scored eight points against Southeastern Louisiana. It marked the first time in the team's last nine games, and only the second time in the last 11, that Vinson has not scored in double figures. She is still averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during that stretch.

Arc Angels: Junior guards Kirby Killingsworth and Britany Vinson are among the school's all-time top 10 in three-point field goals. Killingsworth is currently fourth all-time at SFA with 115 career three-pointers. Vinson is currently seventh in the SFA record books with 89 triples. Vinson is currently ninth in the SLC with a .339 three-point field-goal percentage. She led the league last season at a .373 clip. Vinson is seventh in the SLC averaging 1.61 threes per game, while Killingsworth is 13th in the league averaging 1.26.

The Great Wall of Nacogdoches: Junior Kendria Smith continues to move up the Ladyjacks' record books for career blocks. Smith blocked four shots at McNeese State and is currently tied for seventh all-time at SFA with 82 career blocks. Smith is currently ninth in the SLC averaging 1.00 blocks per game.

Up Next ... The Ladyjacks will close out the 2005 regular season with two games next week. The Ladyjacks will be in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday Mar. 1, to face the Roadrunners. The game against UTSA is slated to begin at 6 p.m. SFA return home for the regular-season finale against Louisiana-Monroe. The game against the Lady Indians will tip-off at 6 p.m., from the William R. Johnson Coliseum.