THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — Stephen F. Austin built a commanding halftime lead and withstood a late Nicholls State surge to earn an 86-78 women’s basketball victory Thursday night at Stopher Gym. The Ladyjacks led 42-33 at halftime and by 15 points entering the fourth quarter before the Colonels mounted a 28-point final period. Efficient shooting secured the win for Stephen F. Austin, which shot 52.6% from the floor and 94.4% from the free-throw line. Nicholls State struggled at 32.5% shooting despite a 21-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. Myka Perry scored 20 points for Stephen F. Austin (12-5). Key Roseby added 19 points. Emani Burks led Nicholls State (8-7) with 17 points. Attendance was 411.

THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks weathered a chaotic and turnover-filled contest, along with a furious fourth-quarter rally from Nicholls State, to secure an 86-78 victory over the Colonels in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Stopher Gym. In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and offensive miscues, the Ladyjacks built a substantial lead through three quarters only to see it nearly evaporate in the final period before steadying themselves at the free-throw line to close out the win. The victory improved Stephen F. Austin to 12-5 overall, while Nicholls State fell to 8-7. The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the fourth quarter, where Nicholls State mounted a desperate comeback attempt that transformed a comfortable Stephen F. Austin advantage into a tense, single-possession affair in the final minutes. After trailing by as many as 20 points, the Colonels unleashed a 28-point final period, capitalizing on Ladyjack turnovers and attacking the basket to whittle the lead down to just three points with under a minute to play. Stephen F. Austin’s composure was ultimately tested and proven in the game’s closing moments. Clinging to a 75-73 lead with 49 seconds remaining, the Ladyjacks saw Nicholls State’s Sanaiya Morris convert a layup to tie the game and send the home crowd of 411 into a frenzy. The response from the visitors was immediate and decisive. On the ensuing possession, Kaylinn Kemp was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to regain the lead. After a defensive stop, Cha Gardner was also fouled and made both of her attempts from the line, pushing the lead back to four points with 17 seconds left. Those four consecutive makes from the stripe, part of a 17-for-18 team performance on free throws, sealed the game and halted the Colonel momentum for good. The contest was a statistical paradox. Stephen F. Austin won decisively despite committing 25 turnovers, which Nicholls State converted into 17 steals. The Colonels, conversely, dominated the offensive glass with 21 rebounds leading to numerous second-chance opportunities, and dished out 17 assists. However, Nicholls State’s shooting inefficiency proved insurmountable. The Colonels shot just 26 of 80 from the field, a 32.5 percent clip, and 7 of 21 from three-point range. Stephen F. Austin was far more efficient, hitting 30 of 57 shots, including 9 of 22 from beyond the arc. Stephen F. Austin’s offense was powered by a balanced attack. Myka Perry led all scorers with 20 points, adding two assists and a block. Key Roseby contributed 19 points, three assists and a block, while Cha Gardner added 14 points, two blocks and a game-high 11 rebounds. The orchestrator was point guard Kaylinn Kemp, who filled the stat sheet with 10 points and 11 assists in 36 minutes, directing the offense to a 102.9 offensive rating on 84 possessions. Nicholls State was led by Emani Burks with 17 points and three assists. Jesslynn Jalomo scored 16 points, and Sanaiya Morris came off the bench to provide a significant spark with 12 points, all in the second half, fueling the late comeback attempt. Sh’Diamond McKnight added 13 points, three assists and three steals for the Colonels. The game began inauspiciously for both teams, with a flurry of turnovers and missed shots marking the opening minutes. Nicholls State struck first with a three-pointer from McKnight, but Stephen F. Austin soon found its rhythm. The Ladyjacks closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run to lead 17-19 and then exploded in the second period, outscoring the Colonels 25-14. A key 11-2 run midway through the quarter, capped by a three-pointer from Kemp, stretched the lead to 42-26, and Stephen F. Austin took a 42-33 advantage into halftime. The third quarter saw the Ladyjacks maintain control, extending their lead to 66-50 heading into the final frame. The Colonels’ full-court pressure and increased aggression then took over, forcing eight Stephen F. Austin turnovers in the fourth quarter alone. A 13-4 Nicholls State run, highlighted by five points from Morris and a three-pointer from Jalomo, cut the deficit to 70-63 with 6:38 to play. The Colonels continued to chip away until Morris’s tying layup set the stage for the Ladyjacks’ clutch free-throw shooting to decide the outcome. Stephen F. Austin continues its road trip with a game at New Orleans on Saturday. Nicholls State returns to action at home against Lamar on Saturday.

THIBODAUX, La. (Interstat) — A surging Stephen F. Austin women’s basketball team looks to extend its winning streak when it visits Nicholls State in a Southland Conference matchup Thursday night at Stopher Gym. The Ladyjacks (11-5, 4-0 SLC) have won five straight, including an 87-67 rout of Houston Christian on Saturday. They are led by guard Kaylinn Kemp, who is averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 assists over her last seven games. In the win over Houston Christian, Harmanie Dominguez scored a team-high 24 points while Kemp added 15 points and eight assists. The Colonels (8-6, 3-2) are coming off a 79-64 road victory at New Orleans, powered by a near triple-double from Anyra Wilson. The guard finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Wilson has been a versatile force, averaging 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in conference play. Stephen F. Austin’s offense has been potent during its streak, averaging 82.0 points per game. Nicholls State’s defense, however, has held three of its five Southland opponents under 65 points. The Colonels will need to contain Kemp’s playmaking and the Ladyjacks’ balanced scoring attack. The Ladyjacks have dominated the recent series, winning the last 10 meetings. In their most recent matchup last season, Stephen F. Austin defeated Nicholls State 78-58 in Nacogdoches, Texas. Following this game, Stephen F. Austin travels to face New Orleans on Saturday. Nicholls State remains at home to host Lamar on Saturday.