HUNTSVILLE ? Ray Alexander and Britni Martin each scored 14 points to lead Sam Houston as the Bearkats defeated North Texas 79-72 in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday at Johnson Coliseum.
In a game with eight ties and seven lead changes, Sam Houston to break a 64-64 tie on two Whitney Smith free throws. The Kats outscored North Texas 15-8 in the final 5:17 minutes of play to up their season record to 3-10.
North Texas (5-9) was led by Yari Escalera and Amber Jackson, both with 17 points.
Five Bearkats scored in double figures with Smith and Lydia Gonzales each totaling 11 points and Lucy Livingston adding 10. Martin and Smith led Sam Houston under the boards, each with 10 rebounds.
North Texas opened the game by jumping out to a 17-5 lead in the first four minutes. Sam Houston cut the lead to 43-39 at halftime and outscored the Eagles 40-29 in the second period.
“This was a big win for us,” SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. “We've played a very challenging non-conference schedule. The girls have kept their heads up and continued to improve. North Texas has beaten two Southland Conference teams so this win will be a big confidence builder for us going into league play.”
Sam Houston hit 28-of-63 from the field for .444 shooting while North Texas was 29-of-74 for .392. Jackson led the Eagles with nine rebounds.
The contest was the final non-conference tilt for the Sam Houston women's team. The Bearkats will open Southland Conference play Saturday at 2 p.m. against Stephen F. Austin State at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.
SAM HOUSTON ST 79, NORTH TEXAS 72
01-03-09 at Huntsville, TX (Johnson Coliseum)
NORTH TEXAS (5-9)
Escalera, Yari 7-10 0-0 17; Jackson, Amber 7-19 3-3 17; Lee, Tricia 4-6 0-0
9; Goodman, Mimi 3-4 2-2 8; James, Brittney 3-13 0-0 6; El, Mansa 1-4 2-2 5;
Thompson, Jeanee' 2-7 0-0 4; Bailey, Brittani 1-3 1-1 3; Torru, Tamara 1-5
1-2 3; Timms, Torrian 0-0 0-0 0; El, Ninye 0-0 0-0 0; Buckley, Kelli 0-3 0-0
- Totals 29-74 9-10 72.
-
SAM HOUSTON ST (3-10)
Martin, Britni 4-11 2-2 14; Alexander, Ray 5-7 3-4 14; Gonzales, Lydia 4-6
3-4 11; Smith, Whitney 3-7 5-7 11; Livingston, Lucy 5-9 0-1 10; Ailshie,
Leasa 4-8 0-0 9; Agnew, Bre 3-5 0-0 6; Brooks, Brittany 0-10 4-4 4; Hager,
Therese 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-63 17-22 79.
North Texas................... 43 29 - 72
Sam Houston St................ 39 40 - 79
3-point goals--North Texas 5-18 (Escalera, Yari 3-5; Lee, Tricia 1-3; El,
Mansa 1-3; James, Brittney 0-3; Torru, Tamara 0-3; Buckley, Kelli 0-1), Sam
Houston St 6-16 (Martin, Britni 4-9; Alexander, Ray 1-2; Ailshie, Leasa 1-3;
Brooks, Brittany 0-2). Fouled out--North Texas-None, Sam Houston St-None.
Rebounds--North Texas 43 (Jackson, Amber 9), Sam Houston St 42 (Smith,
Whitney 10; Martin, Britni 10). Assists--North Texas 21 (El, Mansa 4), Sam
Houston St 24 (Martin, Britni 5; Alexander, Ray 5). Total fouls--North Texas
23, Sam Houston St 14. Technical fouls--North Texas-None, Sam Houston
St-None. A-279
