Oxford, Miss. - Led by sophomore Britni Martin who scored 18 points including six of nine three point attempts, the Sam Houston women's basketball team stayed with Ole Miss for three-fourths of the game before falling 69-60 in the finals of the Mississippi Classic Saturday afternoon.
Mississippi (2-0) was led by Valencia McFarland with 16 points. Sam Houston (1-1) had three other players in double figures with Khamra Echols scoring 14, Chanice Smith 13 and Sequeena Thomas 12.
Sam Houston jumped out to a 9-5 lead on a three-pointer by Jaleesa Thomas with 13:25 to go in the first half. The Bearkats held a narrow lead until a trey by Shae Nelson put Ole Miss up for the first time 28-27 with 2:40 before intermission.
Martin sent the game tied 32-32 at intermission with a three-pointer with 16 seconds left in the half.
Martin opened the second half with another three to give Sam Houston a 35-32 margin. The two teams traded leads three times. Sam Houston went ahead for the last time on a trey by Martin to put SHSU up 47-46 with 10:27 to play.
Mississippi exploded for a 16-2 lead to build a 62-49 lead with 5:36 left and never looked back.
Sam Houston shot 41 percent from the field (21-of-51). Ole Miss out-rebounded the Kats 49-34. Martin was the Bearkats' top rebounder with seven.
Two Bearkats, Chanice Smith and Sequeena Thomas, were named to the all-tournament team. Also on the honor team were Bailie Roberts of Southeast Missouri and Nikki Byrd and Valencia McFarland of Ole Miss.
"Our kids gave a hard fight," SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. "I was disappointed in our offensive rebounding which came back to haunt us in the end. We have to be meaner on the boards. Still, I'm very proud to be comnig back home 1-1 to start the year."
The Bearkat women now return to Huntsville, hosting Centenary Wednesday Nov. 17 at 12 noon in the annual "Pack the House" game at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
More than 2400 Huntsville area elementary school children are excited to attend the contest.
