NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – Stephen F. Austin used a 9-0 third quarter run to pull away from the visiting University of the Incarnate word women's basketball team on Thursday night at Johnson Coliseum.  SFA won the Southland Conference game, 74-62.

The Lady Jacks (12-10, 6-5) had a strong first quarter and led 21-11 after a jumper by Brentney Branch with 1:57 remaining in the period.  The Cardinals (6-16, 3-8) trailed 23-16 after one quarter.  SFA pushed the lead back to nine points midway through the second quarter before the Cardinals closed the half on a 10-4 run.  Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) knocked down a three-pointer for UIW with 49 seconds left in the half and the game went into halftime with SFA ahead, 33-30.

At the start of the third quarter, the Cardinals immediately closed to within a point of the Jacks.  SFA followed with a 9-0 run and they would never lead the game by fewer than eight points over the remainder.  The lead stayed between eight and 13 points over the final 17:27.

The Cardinals shot 43.4 percent from the field, made 4-of-15 from three-point range and were 12-of-16 from the foul line.  Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS) led the team with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including a pair of three-pointers.  Yvonne Maosa (Arlington/Mansfield HS) added 16 points and a team high six rebounds, including five on the offensive end.  She went 7-of-11 from the field.  Williams and Melina Merritt (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge HS) each scored nine points in the game.  UIW had four more rebounds than SFA, but committed four more turnovers.

The Lady Jacks shot 56.6 percent from the field and 66.7 percent in the second half.  They made 3-of-13 from three-point and were 11-of-20 at the charity stripe.  They had five players score in double figures including Taylor Ross who had 16 points, seven assists and four steals before fouling out.  Branch scored 14 points off the bench while Adrienne Lewis added 12 points, six rebounds and four blocks.  They had 16 total steals as a team.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they take on Central Arkansas at home.
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