Three double-digit scoring performances by the Sam Houston State women's basketball team weren't enough to pick up the team's first Southland win of the season as they fell 59-55 to McNeese State.
Angela Beadle led the way for the Kats, scoring 14 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Kristina Smith, earning her first start, scored 13 points and Amanda Barnes also scored 13.
“I'm proud of our kids. Our biggest problem right now is our offensive game. We've got to put the ball in the basket. We're getting the shots, we're just not getting them to fall,” said Bearkat head coach Brenda Nicholls. “We worked hard these past three days but three days of hard work isn't going to win us a championship. But if we can do this every day we're going to get these next games.”
The Bearkats kept it close in the opening minutes of the game after not scoring for the first three and a half minutes. McNeese led by as much as nine in the first half before the Bearkats closed the gap.
Sam Houston had an 8-2 run midway through the first half to cut the McNeese lead to just 22-21 before the Cowgirls scored the next 11 points to extend their lead to 12. SHSU would trail McNeese 34-25 at half.
The Cowgirls would extend the lead to 11 points early in the second half. The Bearkats were able to get hot from three-point range to close the gap.
A three-pointer from Kristina Smith made it a four point game midway through the second half with the Kats trailing 41-37.
After McNeese had extended the lead back to nine, Amanda Barnes and Kristina Smith each hit a three-pointer to cut the Cowgirls' lead to three with just under eight minutes to play.
SHSU was just 1-of-15 from beyond the arc in the first half but managed to go 4-of-6 to start the second half.
McNeese was led by Allison Baggett who scored 19 points while Jayln Johnson scored 14 points and dished out seven assists.
“Kristina Smith is a great kid and she's going to bring a lot to the table. Our starting lineup will change throughout the year and she's going to be in there. She's got a lot of spark and a lot of attitude,” Nicholls added.
The Bearkats will still be in search of their first league win Saturday when they host Nicholls State at 1:30 p.m.
