No. 3 Stephen F. Austin Defeats Top-Seeded McNeese to Win Back-to-Back Championships

The No. 3 Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks captured the Southland Conference Championship, defeating top-seeded McNeese 71-63 Thursday afternoon at the Townsley Law Arena to secure their second consecutive tournament title and 18th overall.
In a championship game that remained tight well into the fourth quarter, SFA made the decisive run when it mattered most. McNeese cut the deficit to five points midway through the final period after Tyreona Sibley (5'8''-G) attacked the lane for a tough finish, bringing the Cowgirls within striking distance. But the Ladyjacks answered immediately as Ashlyn Traylor-Walker (5'8''-G) stepped into a huge three-pointer on the next possession, pushing the lead back to eight and swinging the momentum back to SFA.
McNeese continued to battle, trimming the margin again with a late basket to stay within reach, but SFA delivered the knockout moments down the stretch. With the shot clock winding down inside the final two minutes, Harmanie Dominguez (5'8''-G) buried a deep three from the wing, extending the lead back to double digits and effectively sealing the championship for the Ladyjacks.
Aiyana Perry led the charge and was named Southland Tournament MVP, delivering a standout performance in the title game and throughout the week. Perry was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Dominguez and Traylor-Walker, while Tyreona Sibley and Dakota Howard (5'11''-F) represented McNeese on the five-player squad.
The victory marks SFA’s second straight Southland Tournament championship and the program’s 18th overall title. It also makes the Ladyjacks the first back-to-back tournament champions since Central Arkansas in 2016 and 2017.
SFA’s run continues an unusual trend in the tournament, as a No. 3 seed has now won the championship in back-to-back seasons. The Ladyjacks accomplished the feat last season as well, defeating Nicholls in the quarterfinals and Lamar in the semifinals on their way to the title.

Final:
McNeese - SFA 59-71

Semis:
McNeese - UTRGV 67-52
SFA - Lamar 64-59

Courtesy of southland.org