NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana whittled a 25-point deficit down to nine, but could not complete the comeback in a 79-67 loss to Stephen F. Austin in the Southland Conference women's basketball opener for both teams Thursday night in Johnson Coliseum.
 
The Lady Lions (1-11, 0-1 Southland) shot 60 percent (18-for-30) from the floor in the second half, but could not overcome a subpar opening 20 minutes. Stephen F. Austin (9-3, 1-0 Southland) saw five players score in double figures on the way to improving to 35-6 all-time versus the Lady Lions.
 
SFA scored the game's first 12 points and were poised to pull away throughout the first half. Southeastern committed 16 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and were held to 23.3 percent (7-for-30) shooting, as the Ladyjacks took a 42-19 advantage into the halftime break.
 
Stephen F. Austin extended the lead to 53-28 on a pair of free throws by junior forward Imani Johnson with 4:44 left in the third quarter. Threes by junior guard Ashailee Brailey and senior guard Taylin Underwood cut the lead to 16 and SLU went into the fourth quarter trailing, 60-42.
 
The Lady Lions would not go away quietly, however. Sophomore guard Charliee Dugas and junior forward Jyar Francis each hit two treys to fuel a 14-5 run that cut the SFA lead to 65-56 with 6:56 remaining.
 
That would be as close as the Lady Lions would get down the stretch. Stephen F. Austin answered with a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Riley Harvey and a basket by senior guard Taylor Jackson to take a 69-56 lead with 5:49 left. Southeastern would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way.
 
Underwood led three Lady Lions in double figures with a game-high 21 points. Francis and Dugas chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Dugas and junior forward Kyla Williams led Southeastern with seven rebounds apiece, as the Lady Lions finished with a 41-37 advantage on the boards.
 
Southeastern also finished with 16 assists to 13 for SFA. Kyla Williams and sophomore guard Tyler Morrison led SLU with four assists each. The primary difference in the game came at the free throw line, as the Ladyjacks made 28-of-35 from the charity stripe, while SLU only hit eight-of-14 freebies. Southeastern was whistled for 26 fouls to the hosts' 12.
 
Johnson led SFA with 20 points and was joined in double figures by Jackson (12 points), freshman guard Marissa Banfield (11 points) and junior guard Chanell Hayes (10 points). Senior forward Stevi Parker posted a double-double for the Ladyjacks with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
Thursday's game marked the first of three consecutive road contests for Southeastern to open Southland Conference play. The Lady Lions will next travel to Central Arkansas on Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest in Conway, Arkansas.