March 11, 2006
Contact: Carlos Valdez III. (210) 458-4930
SFA defeats UTSA, 56-48, in SLC Championship
Box Score
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a 56-48 win over UTSA in the O’Reilly Auto Parts/Southland Conference Championship game Saturday afternoon at William R. Johnson Coliseum.
SFA continued its home court dominance over UTSA, winning its 15 consecutive home game against the Roadrunners. The Ladyjacks improve to 23-7 overall, while the Runners finished the season at 18-12.
The Runners were led by junior Vivian Ewalefo’s seventh double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, while freshman Monica Gibbs added eight points and handed out five assists.
SFA posted three players in double figures with senior Britany Vinson scoring 17 points, while senior LaToya Mills and sophomore Nikki Carr added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Stephen F. Austin jumped out early on the Roadrunners with a 7-5 lead at the 15:25 mark of the first half. Vinson keyed the start with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Senior Lacy Mingee’s lay-up knotted the game 7-all with 14:38 to play in the half.
SFA increased its lead to 23-12 at the 9:03 mark on a 9-3 run. The Runners responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead 26-24 with 4:40 left in the half. Ewalefo highlighted the run with eight points.
Stephen F. Austin upped its lead to 29-24 on a 3-point play by Vinson with 3:51 remaining in the first and held on for a 31-28 halftime lead.
Both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor. UTSA was 12-of-32 for 38 percent, while SFA connected on 12-of-36 for 33 percent.
UTSA grabbed its first lead of the game, 34-33, on Gibbs’ lay-up at the 15:59 mark. Mills tied the game at 37-37 with a baseline jumper from the right side with 13:31 to play. Jumpers from Vinson and Mills gave SFA a 41-38 lead at the 11:59 mark.
Carr’s second trey from the left wing extended the lead to six points, but freshman Kara McKay’s 3-pointer from the left wing trimmed the lead 46-41 with 7:16 to play. The Ladyjacks answered with a 6-0 run to build a double-digit lead, 52-41, with 2:23 left in the game.
SFA stepped up its defensive pressure in the second half as UTSA managed only six field goals and 17 percent shooting from the field.
Senior Katie Sandefur nailed a couple of free throws to end UTSA’s scoreless drought of five minutes. With 31 seconds left, Sandefur connected on a 3-pointer to pulled UTSA within 54-48. This would be the closest the Runners would get for the rest of the game. Senior Kirby Killingworth made good on two free throws to push the lead to 56-48.