Balanced effort helps SLU hold off Lady Demons for second straight win

HAMMOND, La. – Four Southeastern Louisiana players scored in double figures, as the Lady Lions held off a late Northwestern State rally for a 71-65 victory in Southland Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in the University Center.

The Lady Lions (3-15, 2-5 Southland) led by as many as 20 in the first half, before a furious comeback by Northwestern State (6-12, 1-6 Southland) in the fourth quarter. The visiting Lady Demons were able to pull as close as four, but clutch play on both ends of the floor down the stretch allowed SLU to pull away for the win.

“Any win is a good win,” Southeastern first-year head coach Ayla Guzzardo said. “Our bench stepped up huge for us tonight and we played well together as a team.”

The win was the first at home this season for Southeastern and the second straight overall for the Lady Lions. The last time SLU won two consecutive games was the 2014-15 season.

“We have to continue to play with confidence and keep this positive momentum,” Guzzardo said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve won back-to-back games and if we want to extend the streak, we’ll have to continue to trust in each other and play good team defense.”

A three-point field goal by junior forward Jyar Francis staked SLU to an 18-5 lead with 4:03 left in the first quarter. NSU bounced back by holding the Lady Lions scoreless for the rest of the period, closing the quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Southeastern lead to 18-12.

The Lady Lions scored the first five points of the second quarter, but NSU junior guard Nautica Grant sank a three to pull the Lady Demons within eight, 23-15, with 9:06 left in the opening half. However, SLU held Northwestern State to three points the rest of the quarter, building its lead to 37-18 at the half.

Northwestern State would get no closer than 12 in the third quarter. A jumper by sophomore guard Gabby Bell sliced the SLU advantage to 54-41 heading into the final period.

The Lady Lions maintained a double-digit lead midway through the final period, as a pair of free throws by junior guard Jaclyn Scholvin gave SLU a 62-51 advantage with 5:29 left. Northwestern State answered with a 7-0 run over the next several minutes and a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Libba Gilliam pulled NSU within 62-58 with just under three minutes remaining.

SLU senior guard Taylin Underwood sliced to the hoop for a layup to push the lead back to six on the ensuing possession. After both teams traded empty trips, Gilliam sank a pair of freebies to cut the Lady Lion advantage to 64-60 with 1:26 left.

On their next possession, the Lady Lions pushed the lead back to six when junior guard Ashailee Brailey stepped up and hit a clutch jumper with a minute left. Brailey’s basket proved to be the dagger, as Northwestern State got no closer than five the rest of the way.

Scholvin led SLU with 13 points and was joined in double figures by Francis (12 points), sophomore guard Charliee Dugas (12 points) and Underwood (11 points). Sophomore guard Tyler Morrison added eight points, while freshman guard Morgan Carrier chipped in with seven.

Morrison (11 rebounds) and freshman forward Caitlyn Williams (10 rebounds) helped SLU to a 37-29 rebounding advantage. Underwood paced SLU with six assists, while she and Morrison each were credited with three steals each.

“We had a lot of players step up big for us today and this was a total team effort which is what we have to have to be successful,” Guzzardo commented. “After we lost the McNeese game, Taylin came to me and asked what she needed to do to help us get better.

“She had taken 31 shots in that game and I stressed to her the importance of getting her teammates involved and sharing the ball,” Guzzardo added. “We’re a better team when we’re balanced and sharing the ball. Taylin has bought in to that as our captain the last two games and the results are plain to see.”

Northwestern State received a career night from Gilliam, who posted a double-double with a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds. Grant and Bell joined her in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Bell also led all players with eight assists.

Southeastern will host Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the University Center. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of the SLU-SHSU matchup at www.LionSports.net/watch.

The Lady Lions will also look to Pack the House when Sam Houston State comes to town on Wednesday. The first 300 Southeastern students in attendance will receive Southeastern Athletics promotional items and SLU students will also have the chance to sign up to win prizes courtesy of Southeastern Athletics. In addition to Pack the House, the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office will offer a discounted ticket to Southeastern Faculty and Staff, as well as all teachers in the local area.

Wednesday will also be a Cane’s Challenge in the UC. If the Lady Lions score 50 or more points, fans will be able to redeem their student coupon or game ticket at their local participating Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers by the end of business on Thursday for a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value.

Morrison will be Wednesday’s Spotlight Player of the Game. The first 150 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Baton Rouge native courtesy of PRIDE.

Northwestern State 65 (6-12, 1-6 SLC)
Johnson 2-11 0-0 6, Gilliam 9-14 10-10 30, Scott 2-5 2-2 6, Grant 4-9 0-0 12, Bell 2-6 6-6 10, Freeman 0-3 0-0 0, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Youngblood 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 19-51 19-20 65.
Southeastern Louisiana 71 (3-15, 2-5 SLC)
C. Williams 2-6 0-0 4, Underwood 4-11 1-2 11, Scholvin 4-8 3-4 13, Morrison 3-6 2-2 8, Brailey 1-4 2-2 4, K. Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Dawsey 0-0 0-0 0, Carrier 3-7 0-0 7, Dugas 5-10 0-0 12, Francis 5-9 0-0 12. Totals 27-61 8-10 71.
End of 1st Quarter – SLU 18, NSU 12. Halftime – SLU 37, NSU 18. End of 3rd Quarter – SLU 54, NSU 41. 3-point goals – NSU 8-25 (Grant 4-7, Johnson 2-9, Gilliam 2-4, Bell 0-3, Scott 0-1, Freeman 0-1), SLU 9-23 (Underwood 2-6, Scholvin 2-3, Dugas 2-3, Francis 2-3, Carrier 1-4, Brailey 0-2, C. Williams 0-1, Morrison 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – NSU 29 (Gilliam 10), SLU 37 (Morrison 11). Assists – NSU 16 (Bell 8), SLU 15 (Underwood 6). Total Fouls – NSU 16, SLU 15. A – 310.