NACOGDOCHES, Texas --
Stephen F. Austin (1-0) handed ULM (0-1) a season-opening loss on Friday
night, 80-55. The win for SFA was its fifth straight in the all-time series.
Jasmine Shaw led the way for ULM with 12 points. Four
Ladyjacks scored in double-figures led by 17 points from Kali Jerrell.
The Warhawks and its full-court pressure led to an early 6-1
lead on a jumper from Shaw at the 17-minute mark. The lead was stretched to
12-3 on a well-executed inbound play leading to layup from Shaw with 14:39 left
in the opening half.
With 10:21 left in the first half, the Warhawks were up
23-13 powered by 10 points off six Ladyjacks' turnovers.
SFA adjusted and trimmed Warhawks' lead to 23-18 with 8:27
on the clock.
Back-to-back baskets from Shantrell Pierson pushed the lead
back to six at 27-21 with 6:28 until halftime. Christina Gray followed with a
three-point play to push lead to 30-21.
At halftime, ULM led 33-29 in part to 53.6% (15-for-28)
shooting from the floor and 11 points off of 11 SFA turnovers. Pierson led all
scorers with eight points
SFA took its first lead of the night at the 16:16 mark in
the second half, 36-35, on a jumper from Antionette Carter. The Ladyjacks kept
the momentum out of the locker rooms and extended its lead to 44-39 after a
three-point play from Porsha Roberts at the 13-minute mark.
Carter finished a three-point play to extend SFA's lead
54-46 with 10:40 on the clock and two Ladyjack free throws pushed the lead to
double-digits on the following play.
The Warhawk deficit ballooned to 17, 63-46, with 8:35 left
in the game forcing head coach Mona Martin to call a timeout.
SFA would cruise to the 80-55 victory.
The Warhawks return to Fant-Ewing Coliseum for a 7 p.m.
tipoff against Tulane on Monday night (Nov. 12).
Coach Mona Martin
Quotes
"We started off very well in the first half. We were pushing the ball, getting
the ball inside and doing the things we need to do win ballgames. All of the
sudden everything changed. We started walking the ball down the court and the
entire game changed. I tried to get them to flip the switch but it was gone."
"Our press break worked very well but the turning point was
when we started walking the ball down the court."
"We did not shoot the ball poorly at all. The free-throw
line caused some trouble tonight but when they pressed we scored every time so
that is something to build upon."
