SFA Press Conference |
SLU Press Conference
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Four Stephen F. Austin players scored in double figures as the third-seeded Ladyjacks claimed their 17th Southland Conference Tournament Title, defeating top-seeded Southeastern 65-57 on Thursday afternoon inside the Legacy Center.
In their first year back in the Southland, the Ladyjacks returned to a familiar place, claiming their first title since 2021, but only their second overall since 2006.
Trinity Moore led the way with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals, while Harmanie Dominguez, Ashlyn Traylor-Walker, and Avery VanSickle all added 13 points.
Southland Player of the Year Alexius Horne scored 13 points, while Taylor Bell had 13 off the bench. Lexi Alexander added 10 boards.
The Lions jumped out to a 7-2 lead before the Ladyjacks responded with an 11-4 run to take a 13-11 lead including 3-pointers from Dominguez, Moore, and VanSickle.
SFA maintained their lead going into the second quarter and extended it out to six in the early going. Southeastern clawed back though as the duo of Bell and Horne began to heat up, bringing the Lions ahead at 29-27 before VanSickle evened it back up.
Horne got a look at the buzzer and drained the 3-pointer to give the Lions a 32-29 advantage going into the break.
Southeastern scored the first two buckets of the second half to push the led to seven, but the game completely shifted from that point as SFA went on a massive 12-0 run which included lay-ins from Faith Blackstone, Traylor-Walker, and Moore as well as 3-pointers from VanSickle and Dominguez to pull ahead 41-36. That momentum carried into the fourth quarter with the Ladyjacks leading 43-39.
Southeastern continued to fight like a champion as they drew it within two points five different times in the fourth quarter, but could not retake the lead as SFA continuously found an answer.
After two Traylor-Walker free throws and one more free throw from Moore got the lead back to four, Traylor-Walker made the game-sealing play as she stepped in front of a Horne pass and laid it in with 1:39 to go to give SFA a six point lead.
From there, free throws sealed it away as the Ladyjacks returned to the top of the Southland and knocked off the regular season champion.
Moore was named the tournament's most valuable player along with Traylor-Walker on the all-tournament team. Horne and Jalencia Pierre represented Southeastern and were joined by Akasha Davis of Lamar.
Next up, the Ladyjacks will find out their destination for March Madness. The 2025 NCAA DI Women's Basketball March Madness bracket will be revealed during the Selection Show at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 16 on ESPN.
Additionally, the Lions will receive an automatic bid to the 2025 WBNIT.