HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University women's basketball team posted a 75-55 victory over East Texas A&M Saturday afternoon in the University Center to outright claim the Southland Conference regular season title and achieve a program record for the longest winning streak in Lady Lion basketball history.
Southeastern (24-3, 18-0 SLC) secured its 20-point victory over East Texas A&M (6-20, 3-14 SLC) with a dominant 26-13-point edge in the third quarter. SLU claimed its first outright SLC regular season title with its tenth win by 20 points or more this season. The Lady Lions improved to 18-0 in conference play as the previous record was held by Southeastern's first team in 1974-75 that gained 16 consecutive wins, and finished with an overall record of 22-2.
"We knew early on this team was going to be special," stated Southeastern head coach Ayla Guzzardo. "My coaching staff does a great job on the recruiting trail, making sure we get the right type of players to help elevate our program to new levels. This team has performed like this night in-and-night out all season."
Allasia Washington led all scorers with 15 points in 22 minutes to fuel a run of momentum for SLU off the bench. The junior guard also finished the contest with four rebounds and four steals while shooting three-of-six from the field, one-of-three from the three-point line, and eight-of-eight from the charity stripe.
Alexius Horne and Kaili Chamberlin tied with 13 points to help SLU close out with the victory in its last conference game at home. Horne ended the contest shooting three-of-eight from the field, two-of-three from the three-point line and five-of-six from the free throw line. Chamberlin produced a career high as a spark off the bench while also grabbing three rebounds and two steals, shooting five-of-12 from the field, two-of-six from behind the arch and one-of-two.
Tyreona Sibley (11 points) stepped up big as the last Lady Lion in double figures while leading the team on the boards with seven rebounds. The freshman chipped in quality minutes for Southeastern with three steals and two assists. Sibley finished five-of-eight from the field and one-of-one from the stripe.
SLU made a statement to close out the game with a commanding 32 points in the paint, 32 points off turnovers, and a season high 50 bench points over East Texas A&M.
The Lady Lions came out to a slow start in the opening minutes of the game as East Texas A&M gained confidence early. Southeastern produced a six-point scoring run midway in the first quarter, but the Lions countered with their own five-point run. As SLU fell into a scoring woe, it relied on its defense and advantage in the paint to secure a10-6-point edge in paint points and 7-3-point advantage in points off turnovers. The Lady Lions ended the first quarter with a five-point lead, 17-12.
Southeastern returned on a mission in the second quarter, earning a 13-point scoring run led by Chamberlin with eight points in the quarter. SLU's defense ramped up and held East Texas A&M scoreless for seven minutes early in the quarter as the visitor's had no answer. The Lady Lions' bench stepped up tremendously in the second quarter to add in 16 points while forcing the Lions into six turnovers. Jordyn Newsome (five points) worked to carry the team in the quarter with a four-point scoring run, but the Lady Lions continued to pull ahead to dominate in the paint. Southeastern closed out the second quarter with a 12-point lead to end the first half up, 37-25.
Alongside Horne and Jalencia Pierre, SLU's bench continued to help carry the team in the third quarter chipping in 16 points. East Texas A&M refused to back down as Jasmine Payne (nine points) charged a spark of momentum in the quarter to cut into the deficit. Nina Horvath (11 points) joined Payne to produce a run of her own for the Lions midway in the third quarter. Southeastern quickly limited every opportunity for East Texas A&M late in the quarter to secure nine points off turnovers and extend its lead. As the tide of momentum continued to turn in the Lady Lions' favor, SLU obtained a 26-point lead over the Lions in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Southeastern's bench, led by Taylor Bell (eight points) in the quarter, finished the third quarter with a 63-38-point advantage.
East Texas A&M recovered in the beginning of the fourth quarter with newfound energy to claim a seven point run, but the Lady Lions quickly battled to snuff out any confidence from their opponent. As Southeastern continued to build its lead, its bench remained locked in on its defensive principles to capitalize off East Texas A&M's five turnovers in the quarter for seven points. The Lions battled to regain a boost of momentum in the paint and win the fourth quarter with a 17-12-point advantage, but it would not bring them within reach to make it a close game. SLU's aggression in the second and third quarter proved to be no match for East Texas A&M down the stretch.
Southeastern forced the Lions into 2 turnovers to end the afternoon, while also posting 10 points off fast break opportunities. The Lady Lions ended the game shooting 39.7 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from the three-point line and 80.0 percent from the free throw line.
SLU will return on the road to close out conference play against UTRGV Thursday, Feb. 27 at 12 p.m., before facing Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.. Both games will be televised on ESPN+.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on X, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
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.
