Women's basketball senior day Saturday at Johnson
3/5/2010 8:52:00 AM | Women's Basketball
When Sam Houston plays host to Texas State Saturday at 2 p.m. in the women's basketball regular season finale, four Bearkat seniors will be making their final appearance at Johnson Coliseum.
All four have played a role in making the 41st season of women's basketball at Sam Houston the most successful in more than a decade. Three of the four have been responsible for building the current program from the ground up.
Ray Alexander, Brittany Brooks, Therese Hager and Whitney Smith will be honored in a special pregame Senior Day ceremony Saturday. Sam Houston head women's basketball coach Brenda Nichols knows this quartet is a special one.
"Saturday may be their final game at Johnson, but what these four have done for the program will be long remembered," Nichols said. "When we came here as a new coaching staff, Ray, B.B. and Whitney were young pups. They've been through all the ups and downs. Therese has played her role as well as a member of the last two teams as we've finally fought our way back to the Southland Conference tournament. These girls also have been quality students, performing in the class room as well."
The 2010 team can nail down the No. 6 seed in the State Farm Southland Conference Classic that begins Tuesday at the Merrell Center in Katy with a victory over the Bobcats. The trip to Katy marks the Bearkat women's first appearance in post-season play since 2004. This year's 10 victories stand as the first double digit win total for the program since 2000.
Alexander, a 5-5 point guard from Dallas Skyline, is in her fifth year in the program, red-shirting one season due to an injury. She ranks sixth in Sam Houston women's career assists with 281 and has scored 729 points in her 98 games as a Bearkat. A health major, Alexander holds a 3.00 overall grade point average.
Brooks, a 5-4 guard from Spring, is the newest member of the Sam Houston women's 1,000 point club. In 112 games in orange and white, she has scored 1,112 points. She also stands third in career assists with 360. She has scored in double figures in 51 games and leads this year's team with a 14.7 scoring average. She was Southland women's "Player of the Week" after victories over Lamar and UTSA. As a business major, she holds a 3.34 overall grade point average.
Smith, a 5-11 forward from Missouri City Hightower, stands third in Sam Houston career rebounds (686) and fifth in all-time women's scoring (1,181 points). In her 112 games as a Bearkat she has scored in double figures 65 points. The past three years, she has averaged in double figures. She is a kinesiology major.
Hager, a 5-11 forward from Olso, Norway, transferred to Sam Houston from Independence Community College in Kansas. She has played in 55 games the past two years, providing quality depth at the post position. A general business major, she holds a 3.44 overall grade point average.
Tickets to see both the men and the women play in the State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic tournament are now on sale. The winner of the Southland tournament earns the league's automatic berth in the 2010 NCAA Big Dance.
Fans may purchase session tickets online at SHSU Ticket Office or by calling 936-294-1729. The supply of Southland single session tickets are a limited so fans are urged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.
First round and semifinal men's and women's session tickets are $18 each and feature two games. Championship day tickets are $15.
Go to Southland Tournament Central for more information or by call the SHSU Athletic Ticket office at 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.
By purchasing tournament tickets through the SHSU Ticket Office, fans will assured of seats in the SHSU section of the Merrell Center. Tickets will be allocated based on a priority system and availability.
