Women challenge Oklahoma State Monday night
1/2/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Cowgirls stand 10-2 this season and have won 40 consecutive non-conference games on their home court at Iba Arena. One of their most recent victories was a 90-65 win over Oral Roberts, a team that defeated Sam Houston 101-85 in the Kats' last home game in Huntsville November 30.
Oklahoma State is led by 5-5 guard Andrea Riley who is averaging 24.0 points per game and ranks as the Cowgirls' all-time career scoring leader with more than 2,100 points in her four years. Tegan Cunningham, a 6-1 forward from Australia, adds 17.8 points to the Oklahoma State offense.
The contest is the sixth in a series of seven road games the Sam Houston women have played in December and January. The Bearkats have lost four games in a row since defeating Jackson State Dec. 5 at the Rice tournament.
The the women's last contest, freshman Chanice Smith scored a season high 19 points to lead Sam Houston State as the Bearkats fell to Arkansas 106-78 in Fayetteville Tuesday. Bearkat seniors Whitney Smith and Ray Alexander both scored 14.
Sam Houston led once in the contest as Chanice Smith hit a three-point basket with 15:37 to play in the first half to put the Kats up 7-6.Eight minutes later, the Bearkats were still keeping the game close, pulling to within six points, 29-23, on a basket off a rebound by Clarke Davis.
The Razorbacks closed the half with a 21-12 run to build a 50-35 margin at intermission. Arkansas outscored Sam Houston 56-43 in the second period.
Sam Houston's trio of four-year seniors is providing the leadership for the women's basketball team this year. Guards Brittany Brooks and Ray Alexander and forward Whitney Smith are combining for 36.8 points a game.
Smith is 16 points away from becoming the 10th Sam Houston State women's basketball player to score 1,000 or more career points. The senior has scored 984 points in 96 games as a Bearkat including 52 in double figures.
Smith passed her head coach, Brenda Nichols, to move into the Bearkats' all-time top career scorers. Nichols scored 923 points in 52 games in 1988 and 1989.
Brooks stands 12th in Sam Houston career scoring behind Nichols. Brooks has scored 854 points in 96 contests as a Bearkat.
Alexander has had six consecutive double figure performances including 25 points at Rice. Alexander is leading the team with 13.0 points per contest while Smith is scoring 12.0 and Brooks 11.8.
Sam Houston's fourth senior is also a starter. Therese Hager came to Huntsville as a junior college transfer last year and provides the Kats rebounding and defensive talent inside. Sophomore Khamra Echols adds 7.5 points per game as the Bearkats' fifth starter.
Also playing important roles for Sam Houston this season are 5-9 freshman Chanice Smith (7.6 points per game), 6-2 sophomore Bre Agnew (5.0), 6-0 junior transfer Terrah Austin (4.1) and 6-0 freshman Clarke Davis (3.1).
Sam Houston opens Southland Conference action on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Stephen
F. Austin then returns to Johnson Coliseum for the women's first home game since Nov. 30 when the Kats face Texas Southern Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for all Sam Houston home athletic events are on-sale now on-line at www.gobearkats.com. Tickets also are available at the Bearkat athletic ticket office 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 number is (936) 294-1729.
