CORPUS CHRISTI - Elisa Beagle's put-back after her own missed free throw with eight seconds left gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi an 81-80 Southland Conference women's basketball victory over Sam Houston Saturday afternoon at the American Bank Center.
Whitney Smith had given the Bearkat women a five-point lead with 38 seconds remaining. Smith hit consecutive baskets, the second a follow shot after an offensive rebound to put Sam Houston up 80-75.
But the Islanders hit a 3-pointer and Jade Davis rebounded a miss shot by the Bearkats. Beagle was fouled to put her at the free throw line down two with eight seconds to play.
Beagle, who led A&M-Corpus Christi in scoring with 16 points, made the first free throw before missing the second then making the game-winning play. The victory ups the Islanders' season record to 16-7. Corpus Christi stands 8-2 in Southland Conference action.
Smith led Sam Houston with 18 points. Freshman Chanice Smith added 17 points. Two other Bearkats scored in double figures as Ray Alexander scored 16 and Brittany Brooks totaled 15. Bre Agnew scored eight first half points but got in foul trouble in the second half.
The Bearkats dropped to 6-15 for the season and 3-7 in Southland play.
The biggest statistical difference in the contest came at the free throw line. A&M-Corpus Christi was 13 of 19 at the charity stripe while Sam Houston went to the line only three times, making two.
The Bearkats hit 45 percent from the field including eight of 23 3-point attempts. The Islanders hit 50 percent from the floor, going 32-of-64.
Sam Houston jumped out to a 10-2 lead early in the game/ The Islanders roared back to tie the contest 14-14. The Bearkats led most of the first half, but were down 38-37 at half. A&M-Corpus Christi led by as many as eight points early in the second period, but the Kats fought back to grab a lead in the final minutes.
The Sam Houston women will play two games at home next week, meeting league leading Lamar on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Tickets for Bearkat basketball home games are on sale now on-line. Fans also may purchase tickets 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. Ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Tournament ticket booklets for the annual State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic March 9-13 at the Merrell Center in Katy are now on-sale for $75 online at SHSU Ticket Office or by calling 936-294-1729. The Sam Houston athletic ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
