Women face strong field in Texas Tech event
11/25/2010 7:47:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sam Houston brings a 3-1 record into the tournament. The women own victories over Southeast Missouri, Centenary and North Texas. The Bearkats' only loss came by just nine points to Ole Miss in the finals of the Magnolia Classic in Oxford, Miss. Sam Houston held a lead with less than 10 minutes to go in the game.
Not since the SHSU women started the 1993-94 season with a 5-1 mark have the Bearkats been victors in three of their four opening contests.
Sam Houston opens play Friday, Nov. 26, against the American University Eagles from Washington, D.C. in an 8 p.m. game. The Kats face Charleston Southern University Saturday, Nov. 27, at 2 p.m. and challenge host Texas Tech Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2 p.m. All three games will be played in the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock.
The competition will be tough this weekend for the Bearkats as their trio of opponents come into play with a combined 9-3 record on the season.
American (2-2) has split its opening four games of the season, all of which have been played on the road. The Eagles have picked up victories at East Carolina and Mount St. Mary's and lost to High Point and No. 21 Maryland.
Alexis Dobbs and Lisa Strack lead the Eagles with 13.0 scoring averages.
Charleston Southern brings a 3-1 record to Lubbock. The Buccaneers defeated Erksine, Voorhees and North Carolina-Greensboro lost to Clemson. The Bucs are averaging 81.5 points per game this season, led by Kelsey Wasmer's team-leading 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest.
Texas Tech stands 4-0 this year. The Red Raiders opened the season with wins over New Mexico, Samford, Idaho State, and Mississippi Valley State, limiting their opposition to 43.8 points per game in the four contests.
Kierra Mallard leads the Raiders with 13.8 points per game. Texas Tech finished 18-15 last year, which included a 14-5 record in United Spirit Arena.
A young squad with only one senior, the Bearkats are led by four sophomores and a junior transfer. Chanice Smith (14.5), Britni Martin (13.5) and Sequeena Thomas (12.0) own double figure scoring averages. Sequeena Thomas is the team's top rebounder with 6.7 per contest.
Jaleesa Thomas (9.5), Clarke Davis (8.7) and Khamra Echols (5.5) add even more scoring power. The Kats' success has been a team effort with 30.8 or the team's 72.8 points per game are bench points.
Following the World Vision Classic in Lubbock, 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.
