Huntsville - Sophomore forward Sequeena Thomas scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season as Sam Houston defeated Central Arkansas 66-54 in a Southland Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon.
The victory keeps Sam Houston (15-11, 9-3) in first place in the West Division of the Southland. Britni Martin led the Bearkats with 23 points.
Megan Herbert, the leading scorer in Southland women's basketball, led Central Arkansas (15-10, 7-5) with 23 points. Micah Rice added 17 points.
For the fifth time this season, the Bearkats had to rally in the second half to earn the victory.
"These girls just keep fighting," head coach Brenda Nichols said. "We played some tough defense tonight and it paid off."
Sam Houston jumped out in front early in the game. With the score tied 8-8, the Bearkats went on an 11-0 run with Martin putting the Kats up 19-8 with a three-pointer at the 7:14 mark.
UCA cut the margin to five points but could come no closer in the period as the Bearkats ended the first half still up 11, 32-21.
But the Bears roared back in the second half to take a 42-39 lead on a three-pointer by Rice with 8:27 to play.
Another three-pointer by Martin put the Kats back in front 46-44 with 6:17 to play. The SHSU women never looked back. Sam Houston out-scored UCA 23-10 in the final six-and-a-half minutes for the victory.
Khamra Echols scored nine points and Chanice Smith added eight. The Bearkats forced 28 turnovers by Central Arkansas, converting those miscues into 31 points.
Sam Houston travels to Northwestern State for a road battle with the Southland East Division leaders Wednesday. The Bearkats' next home game is Saturday at 2 p.m. with Lamar.
Tickets for all Sam Houston State home intercollegiate sports events are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
