Last Thursday Stephen F. Austin beat McNeese 71-59 in the Southland tourney women’s title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Ladyjacks lost back-to-back games in late-January but bounced back to make the NCAA tourney for the 3rd time in the past 6 years. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Stephen F. Austin SR G Ashlyn Traylor-Walker about being the OT hero in the conference tourney semifinal and making the NCAA tourney.
As a freshman at Radford in 2023 you were named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot. Radford was my only offer coming out of high school, so it was really special to me.
Why did you decide to transfer in 2024, and what made you choose SFA? I knew that I was growing as a person and needed a place that would support that growth. I leaned on the Lord, and SFA was the only place that I visited.
You play for Coach Leonard Bishop: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is very passionate and wants to win, so we are the same in those aspects. He taught me how to contain my passion in the right way and taught the whole team how to win.
Last year as co-captain you led the conference with 4.7 APG: what is the secret to being a good PG? I do not know if there is a secret, but since I am a dynamic player the defense has to worry about me going downhill. That opens up the floor for my teammates, and I try to find them when they are open: I give credit to my teammates for knocking down those shots.
Take me through the 2026 Southland tourney:
In the semifinals you scored 16 PTS including the final 6 of the game to clinch a 5-PT OT win over Lamar: how were you able to save your team’s season? Our defense led to offense and we threw some different stuff at them toward the end that they were not prepared for.
In the title game you scored 8 PTS in a win over McNeese: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It meant a lot, especially to go back-to-back. I was most excited for the people who were not here last year because the 1st time I won it was the best experience ever…although winning it again was also pretty nice. We definitely had a dance party in the locker room!
You faced some good teams in non-conference play including Abilene Christian/Louisiana Tech: which of them impressed you the most? Our game against Abilene Christian was really good for us. They are always a solid team so anytime you beat them it is an accomplishment. We also beat Houston, who is a Big 12 team, so that stands out to me as well.
Your team’s 36.8 FG% allowed is top-25 in the nation: what is the key to playing good defense? We work on our offense and defense every day in practice. You do not see a lot of other teams play a 2-3 zone like we do because our rotations are not in the style that most people are used to.
Your sisters Kayana/Pashence/Adelyn all played college basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? I think that we are all good in our own ways. Kayana is the best player, but I am the best all-around athlete!
What kind of seed do you think you deserve, and what kind of seed do you think you will get? That is in the Lord’s hands at this point, but whatever seed we get we will go out and play like we always do.
