HUNTSVILLE - Rashima Jenkins scored 20 points to lead Southeastern Louisiana as the Lions ended a four-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 70-60 Southland Conference women's basketball victory over Sam Houston State at Johnson Coliseum.
After trailing by nine points early in the second half, the Lions outscored Sam Houston 25-12 in the final 10 minutes. Southeastern Louisiana upped its record to 7-9 for the season and 1-2 in Southland action.
Brittany Brooks lead Sam Houston with 16 points. The Bearkats suffered their eighth loss in a row to fall to 3-11 for the year and 0-2 in league play.
Other scorers in double figures were Erica Burgess (13) and Kim Edmondson (12) for the Lions and Whitney Smith (11) and Chanice Smith (10) for Sam Houston.
"We played 32 minutes of strong basketball," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "We lost our composure early in the second half. We shot terribly from the foul line. That was the difference."
The contest was tied six times with five lead changes. Sam Houston built a 35-28 halftime lead and was up 39-30 after a layup by Whitney Smith a minute into the second period.
But the Lions hit 14-of-28 (50 percent) from the field in the second half while Sam Houston could manage only 9-of-28 (32 percent).
Southeastern Louisiana out-rebounded the Kats 50-33 with Jenkins pulling down 13 boards and Zevy Ivory 12.
Sam Houston State travels to San Marcos to take on the Bobcats Wednesday night.
Next home game for the Bearkat women is Saturday, Jan. 23, when Sam Houston plays host to UT-Arlington in a 2 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale on-line at www.gobearkats.com or at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
