HUNTSVILLE -- Brittany Brooks scored a career high 32 points to including a jumper and four free throws in the final 44 seconds of the third overtime as Sam Houston defeated Texas State 92-89 in a Southland Conference women's basketball game Saturday at Johnson Coliseum/
With the victory Sam Houston (11-17 8-8 Southland) sealed the No. 6 seed in the State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic at the Merrell Center in Katy next Tuesday. The Bearkats will play No. 3 seed A&M-Corpus Christi at 2:30 p.m.
Perhaps it is fitting that the last home game of a season celebrating 40 years of women's basketball at Sam Houston should end with the longest women's game in SHSU's history.
With the Bearkats down four points with 21 seconds left in regulation, Brooks hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the game 62-62. Ray Alexander hit a jumper to give the Kats a 74-72 lead with 13 seconds remaining in the first overtime, but Diamond Ford scored on a lay-up with seven seconds left to force a second overtime.
Free throws by Chanice Smith gave Sam Houston an 82-80 lead with 36 seconds remaining in the third OT, by Chick Ofoegbu tied it again at 82-82 for a third five minutes of extra play.
"It wasn't pretty but, like all season long, the girls kept fighting," Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. "It was an unbelievable game and I'm so proud of the effort When we were down by 14 with 21 seconds left, but they got it done."
Whitney scored 21 points and Bre Agnew added 19 for the Bearkats. Ford and Kelsey Krupa both totaled 18 points to lead Texas State (7-19 3-12 Southland).
The two teams combined for 52 turnovers, there were 49 fouls and both squads shot below 40 percent in the 55 minutes of action.
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.
