NACOGDOCHES – Tiani Ellison's finger roll with less than three seconds left was the separator on Thursday night as the East Texas A&M University women's basketball team picked up a 65-64 win over the Stephen F Austin Ladyjacks, sweeping the season series and winning their first game at William R. Johnson Coliseum.
The Ladyjacks, who won the Southland Conference Tournament a year ago and played in the NCAA Tournament, entered the fourth quarter with a 54-43 lead. East Texas A&M has now come from being down at least 10 in the second half for the second game in a row.
The Lions outscored SFA, 22-10, in the fourth, but SFA took a 64-63 lead with nine seconds to go on a pair of free throws.
Following a timeout, Ellison (Durant, Okla.) put the Lions ahead by one on the layup as
Rezia Castillo (Houston – Clear Brook) had the assist on the game-winning basket.
TIANI ELLISON GAME-WINNER HIGHLIGHT
The Lions have now won three in a row overall and took the season sweep over SFA, their first ever wins over the Ladyjacks. East Texas A&M is 10-10 overall and 6-7 in Southland Conference play, while the Ladyjacks fall to 15-8 overall and 9-5 in SLC action.
In the early going, the Lions jumped out to an 8-3 lead through the first 5:19 of the game. The Ladyjacks came back to take a 15-13 lead at the end of the first. SFA had a lead as big as seven in the second quarter, but the Lions chopped the deficit down to just one point at the half, 35-34.
There were no lead changes in the third as the Ladyjacks took a game-best 11-point lead during a 12-2 run. The Lions were held to five points in the final 5:45 of the quarter.
SFA moved ahead 60-57 on a layup with 3:45 to go, but the Lions held the Ladyjacks scoreless for the next 3:10 and took a 61-60 lead. The lead exchanged hands twice in the final minute as both teams hit a pair of free throws, until the game-winner from Ellison, who totaled 23 points and 15 rebounds, her second-straight double-double.
Ellison shot 10 for 17 from the field and was the lone Lion to score in double digits. The Lions shot 27 for 71 from the field, 3 for 21 from deep, and 8 for 11 at the line.
Off the bench, Ashlyn Traylor-Walker scored 23 points along with 11 rebounds for the Ladyjacks, who shot 23 for 57 from the field, 7 for 21 from deep, and 11 for 13 from deep.
POST GAME INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions play their next three at home, hosting Northwestern State on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at
LionAthletics.com/tickets.
-ETAMU-
