LAKE CHARLES, La. – Lamar University built a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter but was unable to hold off third-seeded Stephen F. Austin, who rallied back to win 64-59 in overtime of the Southland Conference tournament semifinals.
T'Aaliyah Miner secured a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds, both career-highs, while adding five steals to lead LU. The three guards of
Jacei Denley (14),
Shaila Forman (10) and
R'Mani Taylor (nine) combined for 33 points.
The Cardinals (20-10) shot 35.5 percent from the field and outrebounded SFA, 44-34. The Ladyjacks forced LU to commit 21 turnovers and capitalized with 19 points. SFA's bench delivered 26 points, while the Cardinals got 10.
Five Cardinals contributed two points in the first quarter to trail by one. LU made three field goals and jumped ahead, 6-3, early on. The Ladyjacks answered with four unanswered points and traded leads with LU.
The game stayed tight in the second quarter before SFA led by three at the midway point. Big Red's defense held the Ladyjacks scoreless for the rest of the half. With Forman and Miner combining for nine points, the Cardinals ended the quarter with 10 consecutive points to lead by seven at the break.
LU continued its momentum as Miner added six points to give LU a 15-point lead on 42.9 percent from the field. In nine minutes of game time, the Cardinals had gone on a 20-2 run. SFA wouldn't back down and trimmed the deficit to six heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals only scored nine points in the fourth quarter, while hitting just 3-of-13 from the field. LU led by eight with seven minutes to go before the Ladyjacks rallied back to tie the game six minutes later. The Cardinals turned the ball over with 22 seconds left before preventing another last-second shot from SFA to send the game to overtime.
After each side scored on its first attempt of the extra stanza, the Ladyjacks went ahead for good. Despite five points from Taylor, who brought the game to within a possession, SFA sank the last lay-up to ice the victory.
