Women host Akron Zips Wednesday at 2 p.m.
12/30/2008 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
After an absence of 39 days, the Sam Houston State women's basketball team finally has a home game in Johnson Coliseum.
The Bearkats will celebrate New Year's Eve with a 2 p.m. contest Wednesday against the Akron Zips of the Mid-American Conference.
The women's last home game at Johnson was November 21, the Friday before the Thanksgiving holiday. Since then, the Bearkats have played eight consecutive road games against teams like Alabama, Auburn, TCU and SMU.
"The team really is excited about being back in Johnson Coliseum again," head coach Brenda Nichols said. "The month on the road has been a grueling test, but we're proud of the way our girls handled it. Our goal all along has been to become a better basketball team and prepare for Southland Conference. We've done that."
The Akron game begins a three-game home stand for the Sam Houston women. Following Wednesday's contest, Sam Houston hosts North Texas at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Kats' final pre-conference tilt. Then, the Bearkats open Southland Conference play Saturday, Jan. 10, with Stephen F. Austin State.
The Sam Houston women stand 2-9 after an 83-41 loss at Oral Roberts Monday night. The Kats had their poorest shooting night of the season, going 13-of-58 from the field (.224) and 0-for-16 from three point range. Whitney Smith led the Bearkats with nine points and Ray Alexander and Khamra Echols each added seven points.
Before the Christmas break, Sam Houston posted a 63-58 victory at Texas Southern. Leasa Ailshie was the team's top scorer in the victory with 13 points.
Brittany Brooks leads Sam Houston for the year with 8.1 points per game. Britni Martin is adding 7.4 points per game.
Akron also is coming off a road loss. The Zips fell at Houston 74-59 Sunday. Akron owns a 3-8 season mark with victories over Michigan, Troy and Robert Morris. The Zips' other losses were to Saint Bonaventure, Chicago State, Chattanooga, Cleveland State, Xavier, Saint Joseph's and Youngstown State.
Kara Murphy, a 5-8 sophomore forward, leads the Zips with 18.5 points per game.
