Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M-Commerce
Branch Helps SFA Bury Texas A&M-Commerce, 75-65
12/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Stephen F. Austin 75, Texas A&M-Commerce 65
William R. Johnson Coliseum • Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (6-5); A&M-C (6-5)
Up Next: McNeese State • Saturday, Jan. 2 • 4:00 p.m.
Box Score 
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's basketball team concluded the non-conference portion of its schedule on a positive note on Wednesday night inside William R. Johnson Coliseum, downing Texas A&M-Commerce 75-65. With the win, the Ladyjacks finish with an out-of-league record at or above .500 for the third straight season.
Junior guard Brentney Branch led all scorers with 18 points off 7-for-12 shooting on the evening. When the Ladyjacks found themselves in an offensive lull, Branch was there to hit a big shot and keep the Lions at bay. She hit three shots from distance and also registered two steals and handed out an assist.
Three other players joined Branch in double figures for the night as backcourt tandem Taylor Schippers and Taylor Ross each finished with 13 points and sophomore forward Stevi Parker put up 12 points. The Taylors combined to dish out seven assists while Parker led SFA with eight rebounds and three steals.
Wednesday's balanced attack marks the fourth time this season in which the Ladyjacks had four players with 10 points or more.
Junior center Adrienne Lewis jumpstarted the Ladyjacks in the first quarter, scoring the team's first four points. The center finished with six points and four rebounds overall in the frame to help SFA build a 16-14 cushion after 10 minutes.
Despite Lewis' early success, the Ladyjacks started the game just 1-for-13 from the field and shot 25 percent (5-for-20) in the first. SFA started to heat up in the second, however, led by an eight-point quarter from Schippers. The `Jacks hit 10 of their 12 shots in the second and took a 43-28 advantage into the locker room.
Branch took over in the second half. She knocked down back-to-back triples early in the fourth quarter to give SFA its largest lead of the game at 64-45. The Houston native later drained her third trey of the night with 6:33 to play, capping a nine-point quarter. Branch netted 12 of her 18 points in the second half when all was said and done.
The Lions never got within single digits of the `Jacks in the second half but did trim their deficit to 10 by the final horn.
The Ladyjacks forced 20 turnovers - 12 courtesy of an SFA steal - and held a 19-7 advantage in points off turnovers. After a slow start, SFA shot the ball at a 42.2 percent clip from the field.
The Ladyjacks will begin Southland Conference play this Saturday afternoon when McNeese State comes to town for a 4:00 p.m. tip. The game will serve as the front end of a men's/women's doubleheader as both SFA teams begin their quest to defend their 2014-15 SLC regular season championships.
-SFA-
