Freshman guard Khamra Echols scored 22 points in a 72-60 loss to Southern Mississippi as the Sam Houston women's basketball team opened their 2008-09 schedule before the largest crowd ever to see a women's contest at Johnson Coliseum
On Elementary School Day a crowd of 2,260, mostly from area schools, filled the seats as the Kats fell to USM's senior-laden squad that earned a berth in the Women's NIT last year.
Pauline Love led the Golden Eagles with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Candace Rucker added 16 points.
Southern Mississippi used their height to dominate the Bearkats inside, out-scoring Sam Houston in the paint 40 points to 20. USM hit 41.2 percent from the floor (28-of-60) while limited the Bearkats to 30.8 percent (20-of-58).
Another freshman, Bre Agnew, also scored in double figures with 10. Junior Btitany Brooks added seven points.
"Playing against a team that started five seniors, our young freshmen had their moments today. It's exciting to see how these youngsters bring a new excitement to the floor that fires up the veterans as well," SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. "We had a couple of spurts, like at the end of the first half, where we missed easy shots and didn't take care of the ball. Against a team as good as Southern Mississippi, that's going to happen. But I'm pleased with the way this team is coming together."
After an early tie, Southern Misssissippi led the rest of the way, building a 34-20 halftime margin and going up by as many as 23 points in the second half.
Junior transfer Therese Hager and senior Lydia Gonzales led the Kats on the boards with eight each. Despite the Eagles' height, Sam Houston was only out-rebounded 40-38.
