Women Host SFA Wednesday
1/24/2012 8:40:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Lumberjacks bring a 12-5 season record and 2-2 Southland mark into Wednesday's contest. Sam Houston has won five of its last six games to stand 9-7 for the season.
Throughout Bearkat women's basketball history, no team has been tougher to beat than SFA. The Lumberjack women own a 54-7 advantage over SHSU in the all-time women's basketball series.
However, Sam Houston has won twice in the pair's last four meetings. The two split last year. SFA won 70-63 in Nacogdoches but the Bearkats bounced back for a 76-66 victory in Huntsville.
"Stephen F. Austin is always tough," SHSU head coach Brenda Nicholls said. "This is a big game for us. To reach our goal of making the Southland post-season tournament in Katy, we need to win at home and see how many victories we can scratch out on the road. We need to keep the momentum going tonight."
Sam Houston State is led by two junior All-Southland Conference forwards, Britni Martin and Sequeena Thomas.
Martin leads the Kats again in 2012, averaging 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and assists. The junior has posted 12 double-figure scoring performances this season.
Thomas is averaging 13.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.The junior leads the Southland Conference in rebounding, ranks No. 9 in scoring and stands No. 4 in blocks (1.6 per game).
"Britni and Sequeena are two great leaders for us," Nichols said. "They are ready to do whatever they have to do to help us win. If it's score points, they'll do it. If it's rebound and set screens to allow their teammates to score, they will do that too."
Other veteran players for the Kats include guards Jasmine Johnson and junior Chanice Smith.
Smith, a 5-9 shooting guard from Mansfield Timberview, is averaging 8.0 points per game. In three seasons she has totaled 708 points for a 10.1 career scoring average.
Johnson is averaging 7.9 points and 7.0 rebounds as a sophomore starter.
Angela Beadle, a 6-3 freshman from Austin Crockett, has earned a spot in the starting lineup in 2012. She is averaging 7.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Tickets for Sam Houston State women's basketball home games are available 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. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
