Feb. 29, 2008

The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team will look to put a disappointing 70-67 setback to Texas State behind it, as the Ladyjacks (10-15/7-6 SLC) prepare to face Texas-Arlington. The Lady Mavs 16-9 (.640) overall are a half game ahead of Texas-San Antonio for second in the Southland Conference standings with an 11-3 (.786) league record. UTA has won two straight, and 7-of-their-last-9, including a 94-61 thumping of Sam Houston State Thursday night. The Ladyjacks enter Saturday's game still tied for fourth in the conference race, after Lamar dropped a two-point overtime decision to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday.

The Ladyjacks are 41-13 (.759) all-time against Texas-Arlington. SFA has dropped four-straight in the series, and nine of the last 10 against the Lady Mavs. UTA recorded a 64-56 victory over the Ladyjacks earlier this season in Nacogdoches. The last time the two schools met at Texas Hall, Texas-Arlington scored a bucket at the buzzer to record a one-point victory.

Despite the Ladyjacks' setback to Texas State, SFA's magic number is down to one to earn a berth in the SLC Championship tournament. One more SFA win, or a Southeastern Louisiana loss would guarantee the Ladyjacks a spot in the eight-team tournament. The Ladyjacks enter Saturday's game in a two-way tie for fourth in the league with Lamar, but currently hold the No. 5 seed. SFA is currently a half game ahead of Northwestern State, and a game ahead of McNeese State, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Senior Nikki Carr is coming off an impressive performance against Texas State. The squad's lone senior led the Ladyjacks with 24 points on 8-of-14 (.571) shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists and recorded four steals in the contest.

The Ladyjacks will return to action Wednesday, March 5, when they travel to Corpus Christi, Texas to take on the Islanders. The game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is slated to begin at 7 p.m. from the American Bank Center.

-SFA-