Sam Houston State scored twice in the second half to beat Nicholls State and earn the second seed in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. It was a memorable final home game for four seniors; Madison Bible, Ashley Fluty, Megan Manis and Jessica Toms.

The four seniors each started the game and Madison Bible, who had played more than 2,000 minutes for SHSU without scoring, put the ball in the back of the net for the third time in the last five games.

“(The seniors) have done a lot of things here and I think one of the big things is just being team first with everything that they've done,” Bearkat head coach Tom Brown said. “Bible has had a fantastic last part of her career. She's been nails for us. Fluty has been a starter from day one. It's unfortunate that Jess has been banged up. Manis has really embraced her move to defense and it's gotten her on the field and she's really done well.”

Both teams played a scoreless first half before a red card to Nicholls' Lauren O'Brien in the 57th minute changed the game.

Sam Houston pushed forward after the red card and was rewarded with a Bible's goal in the 68th minute. Junior midfielder Mariah Titus sliced a shot towards the goal and Bible was able to knock it into the net for the opener.

Sophomore defender Megan Bennett was able to put the game away after she finished off a corner from Bible at the far post.

The Bearkat backline and goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton combined for a third straight shutout and fifth this season in conference play.

The Bearkats finished an extremely successful regular-season with a school record eight league wins and 23 goals scored.

“The biggest bonus we get is having that day off. But now it's a new season and we don't get to be second place starting tomorrow. We get to play a game and the winner moves on so from that stand point there is no bonus,” Brown said.

The Kats will start their tournament run Friday, November 7, at 4:30 p.m. against the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Houston Baptist and No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana.