Box Score


 
HAMMOND – A three-point play by sophomore forward Aja Gibson with 41 seconds remaining gave Southeastern Louisiana the lead for good on the way to a 58-53 upset victory over league leader Central Arkansas in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the University Center.
 
The win moves Southeastern (11-16, 6-8 Southland) into a tie for seventh place in the Southland Conference standings and put the Lady Lions on the brink of clinching a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament. Heading into the final week of the regular season, Southeastern will clinch its fourth straight postseason bid with a win or a loss by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi loss in the last two games.
 
The Southeastern win snapped an 11-game winning streak for Central Arkansas (22-5, 12-2 Southland). The Sugar Bears still have a one-game lead over McNeese State for the league lead.
 
Saturday's win was a microcosm of the effort Southeastern has shown in winning six of its last nine to shake off a 0-5 start to league play, according to Southeastern head coach Lori Davis Jones.
 
“Today was an ugly win, but we kept fighting which is what this team has been doing day in and day out to dig out of that (0-5) hole,” Jones commented. “We knew Central Arkansas wanted to clinch the Southland championship on our floor and we just didn't want that to happen.
 
“I'm really proud of how we've learned to fight through adversity,” Jones added. “(Senior guard) Kelli (Jenkins) has stepped up as our leader and her ability to will us to wins has been key. Aja has been struggling of late, but she hasn't stopped working and she held her own today with the best post player in the league. We're also really proud of our new kids for never hanging their heads.”
 
The win was made even more special by the presence of many former Lady Lions were in attendance for Alumni Day. The 1976-77 AIAW National Championship team celebrated the 35^th anniversary of that magical season and was honored at halftime. One of the stars of that team, Pam Cook Forrest, saw her number 21 jersey retired prior to the game.
 
“Pam has been such a huge part of this program from the beginning and has been a great ambassador for women's basketball,” Jones said. “This well-deserved honor was long overdue and to have her in attendance for this big win was really special.”
 
Gibson led all scorers with 19 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the floor. She was joined in double figures by Jenkins and freshman guard Symone Miller, who finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Junior forward Brandi Simmons grabbed eight rebounds to lead Southeastern, while Jenkins dished out a team-high four assists.
 
Junior forward Meghan Herbert led UCA with a double-double effort, finishing with 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Herbert was joined in double digits by Sugar Bear senior guard Destinee Rogers, who had 13 points and a team-high four assists.
 
Central Arkansas held a 23-22 halftime lead after a sloppy first half that saw both teams combine for 23 turnovers. The two teams played to a standstill through the first seven minutes of the second half, as a Destinee Rogers three gave UCA a 38-37 lead with 12:52 left.
 
Southeastern answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a Jenkins jumper that gave the Lady Lions a 44-38 lead with 10:24 left. UCA, which hadn't lost since a 54-45 loss at Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 11, would not go away, however, as a pair of Herbert free throws tied the game with just under three minutes remaining.
 
The score remained deadlocked for the next two minutes, before UCA senior guard Nakeia Guiden got to the basket for a tough layup and a 53-51 edge with 1:13 left.
 
On the ensuing possession, Gibson got position in the lane and hit a tough leaner with sophomore guard Micah Rice draped all over her. Rice was whistled for the foul and Gibson knocked down the free throw to put the Lady Lions up, 54-53.
 
UCA got a good look, but a three from Desiree' Rogers missed, giving the Lady Lions the ball back with 13 seconds left. Senior guard Jessica Sommers was fouled on the inbound pass and knocked down two clutch free throws to push the lead to three.
 
The Sugar Bears raced down the court, but Rice's three was way off the mark. Jenkins corralled the rebounds and iced the game with two free throws with two seconds left.
 
Southeastern will close out the road portion of its regular season schedule on Wednesday, when it faces McNeese State at 7 p.m. in Lake Charles. Wednesday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.