Women's basketball hosts North Texas Tuesday
11/22/2010 2:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Led by a pair of returning sophomores, the Bearkats have three strong performances in their first three contests. Sam Houston owns a 60-51 victory over Southeastern Missouri and an 83-55 win against Centenary in last Wednesday's home opener. The loss was by just nine points, 69-60, to Ole Miss.
Chanice Smith is leading the team with 13.0 points per game and Britni Martin has added 11.7 in the first three games. Several newcomers also have performed well including former Huntsville Hornet Jaleesa Thomas who is averaging 9.0 points.
"These young women certainly have been playing hard," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "North Texas will be another good test for us."
The visitors from Denton bring a 1-2 record into Tuesday night's tilt. North Texas opened the year with a 78-75 victory over Stephen F. Austin, then lost at Oral Roberts 120-87 and at George Washington 63-53.
Jasmine Godbolt, a 6-0 sophomore center, leads the Eagles with 18.3 points per game including a season best 21 points in the victory over the Lumberjacks. Denetra Kellum, a 5-8 senior forward, adds 12.3 points per game.
The two universities are meeting for the 30th time in women's basketball. North Texas holds a 21-8 edge in the series. Sam Houston won in the pair's last meeting two years ago 79-72 in Huntsville.
A solid recruiting class and the return of Britni Martin has made the 2010-11 Bearkat women a more athletic squad.
Martin scored in double figures as a freshman in 2009 but missed the 2010 season with an injury. The Conroe product has come back strong, posting double figure scoring performances in each of the last two games.
Freshmen Zoe Tucker, Nyha Carter, Devin Wombles and Jasmine Johnson all have contributed. Sophomores Clarke Davis and Sequeena Thomas and junior Khamra Echols along with Smith and Martin comprise the starting lineup.
"With all the young players on the squad, it's been exciting," Nichols said. "These freshmen bring something new every day of practice. There's a lot of enthusiasm out there and it's been fun."
Following the North Texas contest Tuesday, Sam Houston heads on the road for four games. First the Bearkats will take on American University, Charleston Southern and Texas Tech at the World Vision Classic in Lubbock Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Then the Kats meet Oklahoma in Norman on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The next home game for Sam Houston will be Monday, Dec. 6, when the Kats play host to Grambling at 6:30 p.m.
Women's basketball tickets are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets 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. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
