Razorbacks Foe In Season Opener Friday
11/7/2013 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Sam Houston women's basketball team officially begins its 2013-14 season Friday as they take on the University of Arkansas inside Bud Walton Arena at 11 a.m. as part of Elementary Day.
The defending Southland Conference champion Bearkat women know they have a formidable task ahead as the Razorbacks have built a 36-1 all-time record in home openers.
The fifth all-time meeting of the two programs, the Razorbacks hold a 4-0 all-time record against the Bearkats.
"We played Sam Houston a couple years ago and they really gave us a battle," Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. "They did some things defensively that we really weren't ready for yet. Hopefully we won't get caught off guard this time."
Sam Houston defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor 101-42 in a preseason exhibition game last Saturday.
Sophomore guard Amanda Barnes led the Bearkats with 15 points. Six players scored in double figures including Taylor Dorsey (13), Morghen Day (12), Nyha Carter (11), Jazmin Wiley (11) and Jasmine Johnson (10).
“It was good to finally get to play somebody besides ourselves,” SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. “We were excited about the way everyone played. This is a whole new team and it's going to be interesting to see what kind of personality they develop.”
The last time the two teams met during the 2009-10 season, the Razorbacks lit up the scoreboard on their way to scoring more than 100 points at home and winning by a 106-78 final score.
Johnson, a senior guard, returns as the top scorer for the Bearkats this season. The 5-7 senior guard started in 32 games last season, logging the second-highest average of minutes per game (32.4) for Sam Houston State. Johnson also keeps her teammates involved, dishing out 110 assists last season.
Arkansas will put a young and talented roster of their own this season.
Three Razorbacks reached double-digit scoring in an exhibition matchup against Missouri Southern. Freshman Jessica Jackson paced Arkansas offensively with 14 points, senior Keira Peak scored 13 points, while freshmen McKenzie Adams poured in 12 points and Kelsey Brooks added 11 points.
Sam Houston also will face Arkansas-Little Rock Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the second game of the Bearkats' first road trip of the year. The home opener for the women's basketball team will be Friday, Nov. 15, when the Kats play host to Louisiana-Lafayette at 11:30 a.m.
