Bearkat women travel to TCU Sunday
12/18/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Sam Houston State women's basketball team enters one of the toughest portions of their young 2009-10 season after taking a break for finals this week.
First, the Bearkats face TCU in Fort Worth Sunday Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. The Horned Frogs are coming off an upset of No. 5 Texas A&M Saturday. TCU roared back from a 14-point deficit to up their season record to 7-3. The Frogs' only losses this year are to Oklahoma, Minnesota and North Carolina State.
Sam Houston's month-long series of road games continues after Christmas as the Bearkats travel to Arkansas December 29 and Oklahoma State Jan. 4 before opening Southland Conference play Jan. 9 at Stephen F. Austin.
The Bearkats already have played three road games since their last home contest Nov. 30. Sam Houston defeated Jackson State at the Rice tournament, then fell to the host Owls in the tournament finals and lost last Friday against the University of New Orleans.
"It's tought being on the road for so long, but the attitude of the girls is great," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "We had one of our best efforts Friday at New Orleans and just came up a little short. The purpose of our non-conference schedule is to make sure we're ready for the start of Southland Conference in January. They're working hard."
Sam Houston's trio of four-year seniors are providing the leadership for the women.
Guards Brittany Brooks and Ray Alexander and forward Whitney Smith are combing for 37.3 points a game.
Alexander has had four consecutive double figure performances including 25 points at Rice. She is averaging 12.3 points per contest.
Brooks leads the 2009-10 team with 13.3 points per game. She has scored in double figures five times including a 22-point performance against Oral Roberts.
Smith has scored in double figures six times to produce an 11.6 scoring mean. Her top performance this year was 21 points against Ole Miss. Smith also leads the Kats with 7.9 rebounds per game.
Sophomore Khamra Echols, also a starter, is adding 8.4 points per game. The fifth Bearkat starter, junior center Terrah Austin is scoring 4.5 points and adding 4.8 boards per contest.
The Sam Houston women do not return home to Johnson Coliseum until January 12 when they will play host to Texas Southern in a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Tickets are on sale now on-line at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston State athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium.
Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
