Women host third annual "Pack the House" game Wednesday
11/16/2010 5:31:00 AM | Women's Basketball
One thing is for certain Wednesday at 12 noon when the Centenary Ladies come to visit Sam Houstonfor a non-c onference women's basketball game.
Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum will be rocking and loud.
Wednesday marks the third annual "Pack the House" Challenge game with more than 2,000 elementary students from Huntsville area schools bused to the campus to watch NCAA Division I women's basketball.
Two years ago, in the first "Pack the House" contest, a school women's basketball record crowd of 2,261 saw the Bearkats play Southern Misssissippi. Last year, Ole Miss was the opponent and 2,456 fans filled the coliseum. Sam Houston State hopes to top that mark this year.
"Pack the House" is national effort by NCAA Division I in which conferences and institutions compete to build attendance. The NCAA awards prizes to each winner who in turn donates the $500 to the nonprofit organization of each winning institution's choice.
Almost two-thirds of the Division I membership - 184 institutions - participated in the effort last year that attracted more than 559,000 fans.
Each of the last two seasons, Sam Houston has been the Southland Conference winner in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball "Pack the House" Challenge.
The SHSU women's basketball team donated $500.00 given by NCAA to Sam Houston Elementary in Huntsville, TX. Sam Houston Elementary is this years winner and recepient of the spirit trophy as the most vocal elementary group that attended the "Pack the House" game.
"Our girls really look forward to the 'Pack the House' game. With all those kids in the coliseum, it's just a great atmosphere," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "It's a great way to introduce area youngsters to college athletics."
Sam Houston brings a 1-1 record into the game with Centenary. The Bearkats were the runners-up at the Ole Miss Magnolia Classic Friday and Saturday in Oxford, Miss. Sam Houston defeated Southeast Missouri then lost by nine points in the finals to Ole Miss.
Bearkat women's basketball tickets are on sale online now at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU 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 number is (936) 294-1764.
