Ladyjacks Reach Final after 66-57 Win over Nicholls State
ESPN3 REPLAY
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas
-- For the first time since 2007, the conference's most prolific women's
program is back in the championship game.
A smothering
defense and a dominate effort on the glass helped pace Stephen F. Austin to a
66-57 win over upset-minded Nicholls State on Thursday afternoon, sending SFA
(23-8) to Friday's title game, where they will face defending tournament
champion McNeese State.
"Our purpose
in taking this job was to try to bring back the tradition of Stephen F. Austin
women's basketball and be part of the college scene again," said Ladyjacks
coach Brandon Schneider.
Friday will
mark the 18th time SFA has played for the conference title, going 15-2 in their
previous 17 appearances.
The Ladyjacks
held the Colonels (15-16) to just 31.5 percent shooting and held a 43-26
rebounding edge, but committed 17 turnovers, which allowed Nicholls -- who
shocked top-seed Central Arkansas on Tuesday -- to remain in the contest before
keeping the Colonels without a field goal in the final 2:39.
Schneider
said the defensive play of Amina Sawyer was key to SFA's ability to slow down
Nicholls' long-range offense. The Colonels were just 5 for 20 from beyond the
arc as the Ladyjacks successfully kept them off balance for much of the
afternoon.
"She's become
a player that we kind of move around like a chess piece," Schneider said of
Sawyer. "We put her in a lot of different positions, and I think that matchup
of having someone that's 6-2 with long arms was advantageous for us today."
Sawyer's
ability to disrupt shots was just one reason why Nicholls forward LiAnn
McCarthy, who had a career-high 32 points on Tuesday, was held to just nine on
3 of 10 shooting.
"Our looks
were not as clean (as Tuesday), but at the end of the day, it came down to the
17 points off offensive rebounds," said Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance.
"We got some wide open looks, but they just didn't fall tonight."
Yet for all
of their offensive struggles, the Colonels trailed just 48-47 after a KK Babin
(14 points) layup with 6:18 remaining. Babin's field goal proved to be the next
to last of the day for Nicholls, as SFA parlayed their work on the defensive
end into consecutive 3-pointers from Brittany Matthew which gave them a 56-49
cushion.
Plaisance had
no reason to feel discouraged following the loss, as the Colonels concluded a
season that saw them reach the tournament for the first time since 2005 while
also winning their first tourney game in the process.
Three years
removed from a 2-25 campaign, Nicholls will bring all but three of its back for
next season, a journey that Plaisance said would begin in the near future.
"The future
is bright," she said. "We do not plan to take a step back."
Postgame
Quotes
Stephen
F. Austin head coach Brandon Schneider
Opening
statement...
"In the first half, we tried to win the game individually and did
not play with enough team work. In the second half, we had a lot more trust in
not only our teammates but also with the coaching staff can provide with
structure. We were able to execute our high-low game really well and control
the paint."
On
returning Stephen F. Austin to its winning tradition...
"Our purpose in taking this job was to bring back the tradition of
Stephen F. Austin women's basketball. To be a part of the college scene again
is something that we preach in recruiting. We are passionate about it."
On
SFA's 3-point defense...
"[Against Central Arkansas, Nicholls State] made a lot of, what we
call, 'rhythm 3's,' where you just step right into it. We wanted to show a
little more traffic and get a hand in their face to make them hesitate just a
little bit. They got some good looks tonight that just didn't go in, and we
also force them into some guard looks."
Stephen
F. Austin senior center Amina Sawyer
On
outrebounding Nicholls State by 18...
"One of our goals going
into every game is to outrebound teams by at least seven. We knew that
rebounding was going to be one of the things that set us apart. Looking at the
stats, we knew this wasn't one of the better rebounding teams in the
conference, so coach just told us that we needed to expose them. So we all just
gave the extra effort to do what we had to do."
Stephen
F. Austin senior guard Tammara Marion
On
SFA's defense...
"In this game, we enforced
defense, defense, defense. Our offense fell off a little bit, but we stuck with
it, and won."
Nicholls
State head coach DoBee Plaisance
Opening
statement...
"I can't be any happier for not only my women and this program,
but for Nicholls State University. The diligence and character of these women
all year is unmatched. I am so proud to be a Colonel, and I couldn't be any
prouder of my women tonight."
On
the difference in the game...
"Our looks were not as clean, but at the end of the day, it came
down to the 17 points off rebounds for Stephen F. Austin. The women executed
the game plan. It was the second-chance point. We just needed a few breaks. We
did get a few open looks, but they just didn't fall tonight. But I think the
score is more indicative of the 17 points off rebounds for SFA than initial
shots."
On
the state of Nicholls State women's basketball...
"My expectation for this program has been through the roof. Even
my first year here, I had every intent to be in the position where we are right
now. The future is bright, and it has been a process. I am grateful for the ups
and grateful for the downs. The challenging times have only forced me to work
harder. The harder the leader works, it just resonates down to the team.
Nicholls
State sophomore guard KK Babin
On
the state of Nicholls State women's basketball..."We are coming along. This is our first time [to Katy] since I
have been here, and it definitely won't be our last."