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HOUSTON – In a hard-fought effort by HBU, rebounding was the difference in a 71-60 loss to visiting Stephen F. Austin in Southland Conference play Thursday night in Sharp Gym.

SFA out-rebounded the Huskies, 50-26, including 24-9 in offensive boards. The latter statistic resulted in 26 second-chance points for the Ladyjacks.

Erin McGarrachan and Rachel Arthur led HBU (4-10 overall, 0-3 SLC) with 12 points apiece, while Monet Neal added 11 points and pulled down a team-best five rebounds. Heidi Sihvola scored nine points, as she led the Huskies with four assists and was one of three Huskies with three steals.

Tierany Roberts led SFA (9-6 overall, 4-0 SLC) with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Porsha Roberts and Brittney Matthew each chipped in with 13 points.

The teams battled back and forth, with four ties in the first 12 minutes of the game and no team leading by more than three. Tied at 12, SFA used a 9-0 run for its largest lead of the game at 21-12 with 5:45 remaining in the opening half, as Matthew started the run with a three-pointer and ended it with a jumper.

HBU came within five, following a three-pointer by McGarrachan at the 4:37-mark, but the Ladyjacks closed out the half on a 14-7 run to lead HBU by 12 at halftime, 36-24.

McGarrachan and Roberts led their respective teams with nine points in the first half.

SFA began the first half like it ended the first – with a run – as the Ladyjacks scored seven of the first eight points of the second half to lead by 18, 43-25, prompting an HBU timeout with 17:02 remaining in regulation.

A jumper by Neal and back-to-back baskets by McGarrachan brought the Huskies to within 13, but SFA went back up by 18, 54-36, at the midway point of the second half.

A Shanice Steenholdt layup brought the Huskies to within 16, 66-50, with 3:40 to go. Sihvola stole the in-bounds pass, resulting in a trey by Maisie Elston. The Huskies forced another Ladyjack turnover on their next possession, resulting in a foul and a made free throw by Arthur and suddenly, the Huskies were down by 12 with 2:05 remaining in regulation.

SFA had a technical foul Sihvola sank both free throws to make the score 66-56 with 2:02 remaining. The Huskies never quit, as Arthur made two free throws to bring HBU to within eight with 61 seconds to go. Neal forced an SFA turnover, but the Huskies were unable to convert the turnover into points, SFA went 3-for-3 at the line, and the Ladyjacks held on for the win.

HBU will look for its first Southland Conference win against Northwestern State Saturday at 3 pm.