Lubbock, Tex. - Sequeena Thomas posted career highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead Sam Houston in a 65-52 loss to Texas Tech in the finals of the World Vision Classic women's basketball tournament Sunday afternoon.
The loss ends Sam Houston's four-game winning streak but the Bearkats' 5-2 record still stands as the team's best season stark in 17 years. Texas Tech remains undefeated with a perfect 8-0 mark.
The Red Raiders never trailed, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in the first four-and-a-half minutes. Chanice Smith hit back-to-back three-point shots to pull the Bearkats within two, 10-8, at the 14:28 mark. That was as close as the Kats would come the rest of the game.
Texas Tech went on a 22-7 run to go up 32-15 with 3:10 to play before intermission and were up 32-21 at halftime.
Britni Martin hit a trey two minutes into the second half to put Sam Houston within seven, 32-25, but again the Red Raiders pulled away.
Martin, who had scored 34 and 37 points in her last two outings, drew plenty of attention from the Red Raider defense and was held to seven points. Martin was named to the World Vision Classic All-Tournament team
Smith was the Bearkats' second-leading scorer. Casey Morris led Texas Tech with 17 points.
"Our girls played hard and left it all on the floor," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "Texas Tech is an outstanding team. We didn't get as many shots as we usually do and we got in early foul trouble. To have as young a team as we do, it's exciting to be bringing back a second place trophy back to Huntsville."
Sam Houston hit only 18-of-61 from the floor for a 29.5 shooting percentage in the game. Texas Tech picked up 18 points off the Bearkats' 22 turnovers and outscored Sam Houston 30-16 in the paint.
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.
