The Lady Lions basketball team lost their game against Stephen F. Austin 92-62 on Senior Day.
“Disappointed in the outcome obviously,” said Head Coach Errol Gauff. “Big day for Chey Stewart, our only senior, and we didn’t have our ‘A’ game. We knew it would take an ‘A’ performance from us. Stephen F.’s a very good team.”
The team fought till the end but Stephen F. Austin proved to be too strong.
“We played our heart out, and that’s all I can ask for from my team,” said Chey Stewart, a senior forward. “We stuck together till the end.”
After graduation, Stewart plans to join the military.
“To go to the airforce as a general officer,” said Stewart.
This loss brought the team to an overall 5-21 and 3-12 in conference.
“We had to make it a five on five game, so we had to protect the ball,” said Gauff. “Too many turnovers especially in that first half where the game got away from us sort of. Thought our young ladies came back the first few minutes of the third quarter and responded. Then once again, turnovers and a couple bad things happened on the offensive end. I’m always proud of our young ladies and their effort and the resilience that they show in the games. Today, we just did not execute the way we needed to execute.”
Gauff believes the team needs to work together and continue to play hard.
“We have to keep working hard,” said Gauff. “Continue to always remember we gotta do everything as a team. We cannot do anything with any type of individualism. When things go wrong, we have to keep playing hard. Understand the game is 40 minutes, so if something goes wrong early, keep playing, and it’ll balance itself out.”
Stewart also feels the team needs to work together.
“Just get back on defense, talk more and just play together,” said Stewart. “That’s all we can ask for.”
Although the season has not gone well, Stewart is grateful for her team in her final season as a Lady Lion.
“I feel like this season has been one of the best seasons I’ve had since I’ve been a Lady Lion, and I can’t thank my teammates more for this joyous ride,” said Stewart.
Gauff, who is new to this team, feels he has learned plenty from this season, the team and the staff and remains hopeful for the remainder of the season.
“I’ve learned a lot,” said Gauff. “I’ve learned a lot from the young ladies, the other coaches. I understand we have a lot of work to do, but I’m glad to be the coach. It’s been disappointing. I felt we probably have a few more wins. Maybe I should say we should have a few more wins, but the reality of the situation is what it is. I don’t mind work, and we have a lot of work to do, but we have a good group of young ladies.”
The next game for the Lady Lions basketball team is against Central Arkansas. They will play on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at home.