Lamar tops SFA, set for rubber game with UT Arlington
KATY, Texas ? The Lamar women’s basketball team became the fourth and final team to punch its ticket to the semifinal round of the State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament on Wednesday. The No. 4 Lady Cardinals will take on top-seeded UT Arlington Friday at 2:33 p.m. at the Merrell Center after taking flight in the second half for a 76-64 win against No. 5 Stephen F. Austin.
Despite the loss, Stephen F. Austin (15-14) showed its resiliency late in regulation when it scored 18 points in the final 2:47, but Nikki Williams led Lamar (20-10) out of a jam when she converted 7-of-8 free throws during that span. The Ladyjacks were unable to take advantage of a spell earlier in the half when Lamar was held scoreless for more than 6:30. During that span Stephen F. Austin cut into what was then a 19-point Lady Cardinals lead by only six points. Lamar soon found its stroke and regained a stranglehold on the game when it got a pair of clutch three-pointers from 2009 Newcomer of the Year Darika Hill and Williams.
In the first half, the lead changed hands three times in the first four minutes before Lamar took a lead it would not relinquish on a layup from Williams. Stephen F. Austin cut the deficit back to one point when a Tammara Marion triple made the score 16-15 with 8:42 left in the half, but Lamar pulled away for a 35-27 lead at the half.
Williams combined six rebounds, four assists and four steals with a game-high 21 points to lead Lamar into the semifinal round. She got help from Brittney Williams, Darika Hill and Trashanna Smith, who each scored in double figures and combined for 39 points. Ebony Alexander led all Ladyjacks in scoring with 15 points while Marion added 13 and Jordan Ford poured in 10.