NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana junior guard
Peaches Anderson scored a career-high 18 points, but it was not enough as the Lady Lions dropped a 78-71 overtime decision in its Southland Conference opener to defending league regular season champion Stephen F. Austin Monday night at Johnson Coliseum.
Playing in its third straight overtime contest, the Lady Lions (4-8, 0-1 Southland) fell despite connecting on a season-high 10 three-point field goals – including six by Anderson. Stephen F. Austin (8-5, 1-1 Southland) evened its league record by winning its 13
th straight over SLU.
The difference in the game came at the free throw line, as SLU was assessed 23 fouls to SFA's 13. The Lady Lions were 9-for-17 from the charity stripe, while the Ladyjacks converted 22 of 26 free tries.
Anderson was joined in double figures by junior forward
Nanna Pool, who netted 15 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Senior guard
Elizabeth Styles and senior forward
Annessa De La Cruz chipped in with nine points.
Junior guard
Erica Hernandez, who played all 45 minutes in place of SLU's injured leading scorer
Symone Miller, and senior forward
Jameika Hoskins added eight points each to the SLU balanced effort. Styles finished with a game-high six assists, as the Lady Lions had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the third time this season. Hoskins pitched in with a game-high three steals.
Sophomore guard Taylor Ross led SFA with 25 points and a team-high six assists, while senior center Porsha Roberts added 24 points and 10 rebounds to post a double-double. Senior forward Tierany Henderson led the Ladyjacks with 11 rebounds, as SFA out-rebounded Lady Lions, 45-31.
Roberts fouled out Pool on a three-point play on the first play of overtime. Hernandez answered with a three to tie the game, but SFA went on a 12-2 run to put the contest away. A three by De La Cruz in the final seconds cut the final margin to seven.
After a back and forth first half, SFA took a 30-26 lead into the break. Neither team could break away in the second half, though a Styles floater gave SLU a 56-52 lead with 7:10 left.
The lead flip-flopped several times down the stretch in regulation with a Ross jumper giving SFA a 62-60 advantage with 2:38 remaining. After the team's traded empty possessions, Anderson sunk a three from the right wing to give SLU a 63-62 lead with 51 seconds left.
SFA would draw a foul on its ensuing possession, as Roberts tied the score by making one of two from the line with 28 seconds left. On the final trip for SLU, Syles left a runner short to send the game into extra time.
Southeastern will return home to host Sam Houston State on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the University Center. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at
www.LionSports.net, where live stats and live video (LionVision subscription required) will be accessible.
Senior forward
Adrina LaVern is Thursday's Spotlight Player of the Game and the first 100 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Anchorage, Alaska native courtesy of PRIDE.
Southeastern Louisiana 71 (4-8, 0-1 Southland)
Anderson 6-13 0-2 18, Styles 4-16 0-2 9, Hernandez 2-6 2-2 8, Hoskins 2-6 2-2 8, Pool 6-13 3-4 15, Delaune 0-1 0-0 0, Underwood 0-1 2-3 2, De La Cruz 4-6 0-2 9, Fielder 0-0 0-0 0, Stewart 1-1 0-0 2, LaVern 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-64 9-17 71.
Stephen F. Austin (7-6, 1-1 Southland)
Matthew 1-8 2-2 4, Ross 10-16 4-5 25, Roberts 7-10 10-11 24, Alexander 1-3 2-2 6, Henderson 2-8 2-2 6, Branch 3-8 0-0 7, Pena 0-1 0-0 0, Powell 2-5 0-0 4, Bragman 0-0 0-0 0, Middleton 0-0 0-0 0, Lewis 1-2 2-4 4. Totals 27-61 22-26 78.
Halftime – SFA 30, SLU 26. End of Regulation – SLU 63, SFA 63. 3-point goals – SLU 10-25 (Anderson 6-12, Hernandez 2-5, Styles 1-4, De La Cruz 1-3, Underwood 0-1), SFA 2-12 (Branch 1-4, Ross 1-2, Henderson 0-3, Powell 0-2, Matthew 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – Pool, Stewart. Rebounds – SLU 31 (Pool 8), SFA 45 (Henderson 11). Assists – SLU 16 (Styles 6), SFA 20 (Ross 6). Total Fouls – SLU 23, SFA 13. A – n/a.
