NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — Stephen F. Austin used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from Incarnate Word for a 75-63 women’s basketball victory Thursday night at William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks, now 10-5, outscored the Cardinals 28-20 in the pivotal period, turning a two-point halftime deficit into a lead they would not relinquish. Myka Perry led Stephen F. Austin with 17 points, while Harmanie Dominguez added 13. The Ladyjacks’ defense forced 16 turnovers and recorded 12 steals. Brynn Lusby scored a game-high 21 points for Incarnate Word, which fell to 6-7. Madison Cockrell added 12 points in the loss. Stephen F. Austin shot 49.2% from the field compared to Incarnate Word’s 33.8%. Attendance was 758.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks to a 75-63 victory over the Incarnate Word Cardinals in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Thursday night at William R. Johnson Coliseum. The game, played before an announced crowd of 758, was a tale of two halves, with the decisive swing occurring after halftime. The Cardinals, who led 29-27 at the break, saw their advantage evaporate under a relentless Ladyjacks offensive onslaught in the third period. Stephen F. Austin outscored Incarnate Word 28-20 in the quarter, transforming a tight contest into a comfortable lead. The Ladyjacks shot efficiently from the field throughout the night, finishing at 49.2% on 30-of-61 shooting, and capitalized on their opportunities in the paint, where they outscored the Cardinals 52-32. The Cardinals, who fell to 6-7 on the season, were led by a standout performance from Brynn Lusby. The 5-foot-10 guard from Frisco, Texas, scored a game-high 21 points in just 24 minutes of action, adding a block and a steal. Madison Cockrell of Dallas added 12 points and two assists in 37 minutes. Incarnate Word struggled with its shooting overall, connecting on just 33.8% of its field goal attempts and only 4 of 21 from three-point range. Stephen F. Austin, which improved to 10-5, showcased a balanced scoring attack. Myka Perry led the way with 17 points, while Harmanie Dominguez contributed 13 points and three assists. The Ladyjacks also received 12 points apiece from Aziyah Farrier, who added four blocks, and Makana Gardner, who had two blocks. Key Roseby chipped in 11 points, two assists and a block. Defensive pressure was a key factor for the home team. Stephen F. Austin recorded 12 steals and seven blocks, forcing 16 Incarnate Word turnovers which they converted into 18 points. The Cardinals managed eight steals but were hampered by their own 14 turnovers. The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Incarnate Word established an early edge, closing the first quarter with a 15-11 lead. The Cardinals maintained a slim margin through a low-scoring second quarter, taking a two-point lead into the locker room. The opening minutes featured a flurry of turnovers and defensive plays, with Cockrell and Lusby making early steals for the Cardinals, and Farrier registering a block for the Ladyjacks. The complexion of the game changed entirely after halftime. Stephen F. Austin’s offense found its rhythm, and its defense tightened, holding Incarnate Word to inefficient shooting while generating easy transition opportunities. The Ladyjacks’ run built a lead that Incarnate Word could not overcome in the final quarter, despite the Cardinals’ efforts to close the gap. Statistically, Stephen F. Austin held advantages in several categories beyond scoring. The Ladyjacks dished out 12 assists to Incarnate Word’s eight and won the rebounding battle on the offensive glass, securing nine offensive boards. Incarnate Word’s offensive rating of 79.6 on 79 possessions paled in comparison to Stephen F. Austin’s mark of 101.9 on 74 possessions, underscoring the efficiency gap. The victory extends Stephen F. Austin’s positive momentum as they look ahead to a home matchup against Houston Christian on Saturday. Incarnate Word, which had won two of its last three games coming in, will aim to rebound quickly on the road at Lamar this Saturday.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Interstat) — A surging Stephen F. Austin looks to continue its momentum in Southland Conference play when it hosts an Incarnate Word team finding its footing Thursday night at William R. Johnson Coliseum. The Ladyjacks (9-5) have won three of their last four, including an 87-72 road victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. Harmanie Dominguez powered that win with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists, highlighting her role as the team’s versatile offensive catalyst. Over her last five games, Dominguez is averaging 13.4 points and 3.6 assists. Stephen F. Austin has shown potency at home this season, notably with a signature non-conference win over Houston in November. Their conference slate continues with a focus on maintaining defensive intensity after allowing just 62 points per game in their last two wins. The visiting Incarnate Word Cardinals (6-6) have won two straight, edging Houston Christian 56-52 last Saturday. Guard Madison Cockrell has been central to their recent success, averaging 16.8 points over her last four contests. She scored 19 in the win over Houston Christian and poured in 20 in a victory against Southeastern Louisiana on New Year’s Eve. The Cardinals have struggled on the road, however, with a 1-4 record away from home this season. Their offense will be tested by a Ladyjacks defense that has forced an average of 18 turnovers per game. This matchup marks the first meeting between the programs this season. Stephen F. Austin will look to leverage its home-court advantage and superior record to solidify its conference standing, while Incarnate Word aims to build a winning streak and reach .500 in league play. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST Thursday. Stephen F. Austin hosts Houston Christian on Saturday, while Incarnate Word travels to face Lamar.