COMMERCE – Coming into the game riding a two-game winning streak, the East Texas A&M University women's basketball team suffered a 71-55 loss to the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks on Thursday night at the Hunt Regional Healthcare Court in the Field House. 
 
The two teams combined to shoot 3 for 17 to start the game as the Lions had a 4-2 edge at the 4:58 mark of the first quarter. The Lions climbed ahead 10-6, but the Ladyjacks answered with five points in a row to take its first lead of the game with two minutes left in the first quarter. Neither side had a two-possession lead until the Ladyjacks hit a three-pointer to take a 16-12 lead at the 7:18 mark of the second quarter.
 
SFA started the second quarter on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 23-14 with 4:51 to go in the half. The Lions had the lead for just 10 seconds in the second quarter after leading for all but 58 seconds in the first quarter.
 
The Ladyjacks went on a scoring drought of over two minutes and 28 seconds, during which the Lions scored seven in a row over a span of 1:24 to make it a one-possession game with less than two minutes left in the half. The Ladyjacks served back a 7-0 run to go back up by nine. 
 
At the half, the Lions trailed 30-24, shooting 33.3 percent from the field, while SFA shot 36.7 percent. The Lions were 1 for 11 from deep in the first half, while the Ladyjacks were 5 for 17. SFA also had the 23-18 advantage in rebounding. The Ladyjacks committed 11 turnovers in the first half, while East Texas A&M committed eight. In the game, both teams had 16 turnovers each.
 
The Lions scored the first two points of the third quarter, but then the Ladyjacks went on a 16-2 run to take a game-high 18-point lead.
 
The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Lions, who fall to 6-17 overall and 3-11 in Southland Conference play, while SFA is now 20-5 overall and 10-4 in conference play. East Texas A&M is now in a three-way tie for ninth place in the standings with six games left in the regular season, just a game back of the eighth and final spot into the SLC Tournament.
 
Jasmine Payne (Montgomery, Ala.) shot 7 for 10 from the field for 17 points, leading the Lions, while Nina Horvath (Oberwart, Austria) scored 11. The Lions were outrebounded, 44-28, and outshot, 41.5-39.3, in the game.
 
For the Ladyjacks, Faith Blackistone added 20 points along with 11 rebounds and Key Roseby scored 12 as did Makana Gardner off the bench.
 

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The Lions host Lamar on Saturday at noon. During halftime, there will be a robot battle in collaboration with the East Texas A&M Robotics team and the REC Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/tickets.