HAMMOND, La. – A defensive struggle between the Southland Conference co-leaders went the way of Southeastern Louisiana University, as the Lady Lions remained unbeaten in league play with a 48-43 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in women's basketball action Thursday evening in the University Center.
SLU (8-6, 4-0 Southland) outlasted the Islanders (11-7, 3-1 Southland) and took sole possession of the conference lead thanks to a smothering defensive performance. The Lady Lions forced 17 TAMU-CC turnovers and held the visitors to 31.4 percent (16-for-51) shooting from the floor.
Southeastern's defense backed up a tough shooting night for the Lady Lions. SLU, which came into the game with a Southland-leading 42.7 field goal percentage, converted just 29.2 percent (19-for-65) of its field goal attempts in the win.
"Our defense can help us win a championship," Southeastern head coach
Ayla Guzzardo commented. "Our shots aren't going to fall every time out, but our defense is something we can count on consistently from game-to-game."
After winning the first three Southland Conference games by an average of 26 points, the Lions were tested by a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi squad that had won six straight heading into Thursday's matchup.
"Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a very good team, so we expected a battle," Guzzardo said. "I told (Islander head) Coach (Royce) Chadwick before the game that I expect to see them again in March (at the conference tournament).
Caitlyn Williams lead Southeastern with nine points and a career-high tying 17 rebounds in Thursday's victory.
Morgan Carrier and
Hailey Giaratano added eight points apiece, while
Cierria Cunningham and
Taylor Bell each chipped in with seven points. Giaratano led SLU with three assists.
Violeta Verano led all scorers with 15 points to pace the Islanders. Verano also led the Islanders with four assists, while Alecia Westbrook pulled down a team-high 15 rebounds.
Southeastern took the lead for good in the fourth quarter, as Williams made back-to-back buckets to break a 40-40 tie and put SLU up, 44-40, midway through the final minute. The score would stay the same for the next four minutes, as both defenses ratcheted up the intensity.
A pair of free throws by Paige Allen ended a near eight-minute scoreless drought for the Islanders and cut the lead to 44-42 with 40 seconds remaining. However, Giaratano found a wide-open Carrier under the basket to double the Southeastern lead to 46-42 with 35 seconds left.
Allen made one of two free throws on the ensuing Islander possession, but a Giaratano miss gave the Islanders one last chance. Olivia Dowden missed a three and Williams was able to ice the game with a pair of free throws.
"I had no doubt KK was going to make those two free throws," Guzzardo said. "She's built for handling the pressure."
Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday, hosting UIW at 1 p.m. in the University Center. Saturday's game will be televised live on ESPN+. Giaratano and
Alexius Horne will be Saturday's Spotlight Players of the Game and the first 150 fans will receive trading cards featuring the Lady Lion sophomores courtesy of PRIDE.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit
www.LionSports.net/clear.
