Demons at Johnson Wednesday
2/21/2012 9:28:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The women will be seeking to bounce back from a 61-55 road loss at Central Arkansas Saturday that all but eliminated the Bearkats from contention for the number one seed at the Southland Conference post-season tournament in Katy March 6-9.
But the number two seed and a second consecutive Southland West Division title are still up for grabs.
The Sam Houston women stand 8-4 in Southland play, tied for division leadership with Stephen F. Austin. Northwestern State has been eliminated from contention for post-season play with its 1-11 league record.
McNeese State, with a 9-3 record and in second place in the East Division, is one game ahead of both SHSU and SFA in the race for the No. 2 spot in Katy. Nicholls State and Lamar are one win back of the Bearkats and the Jacks, both with 7-5.
Sam Houston will finish with contests at Lamar, at SFA and with Texas State at home on the final day of the regular season.
"There's still a lot of basketball to be played," SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. "We need to finish strong these last four games and go into the tournament with plenty of momentum. Anything can happen once we get to Katy."
With three victories in their last four games, the Bearkat women stand 13-10 for the year.
Junior forwards Britni Martin (16.5 points) and Sequeena Thomas (14.0) continue to lead Sam Houston. Freshman Angela Beadle (7.2), sophomore Jasmine Johnson (7.2) and senior Khamra Echols (3.9) round out the starting lineup.
Senior Chanice Smith (7.4) and freshmen Jazmin Wiley (4.4) and Kaysean Clavelle (1.4) add a spark off the bench.
Play inside the paint is a key factor for the Kats. The SHSU women are 12-1 in games in which they have out-scored their opponents in the paint and 11-4 when they out-rebound opponents.
Tickets for Sam Houston State home women's basketball contests are available now on the internet at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
