The Bearkats shot just 25% in the second half but still managed to keep the game close as they lost 63-62 to Houston Baptist at Johnson Coliseum Saturday. The Kats and Huskies are now both 5-5 in league play.
Angela Beadle led all scorers and rebounders with 20 points and 15 boards. The Bearkats struggled to get the ball to her in the final minutes as she only scored two points on a pair of free throws in the final four minutes of the ball game.
“We've got to take care of the little things and I think some of the little things came back to bight us in the end today,” coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “We have to do what we know how to do and try not to get out of the gameplan.”
Sam Houston shot 11% percent from the field in the first 14 minutes of the second half while HBU was making nearly 60% of their shots. The Kats went more than eight minutes without a field goal in the second half and HBU led by as many as 11 points.
Beadle finally made a layup and completed a three-point play with 6:22 left in the game to start a run for the Kats. She made her next two shots and a free throw to cut the HBU lead to two points with 3:08 left.
A Summer Fife three-pointer gave SHSU its first lead since the opening minutes of the second half. HBU came right back and retook the lead with a minute and a half to play and wouldn't give it up the rest of the way.
Beadle, who started slowly, scored from under the basket with eight seconds left in the first half to give the Bearkats a 29-27 lead at the break. She ended up with nine points and nine rebounds in the first period.
The Bearkats started the game on a 6-0 run before HBU tied the game, but SHSU then followed with a 9-0 run to jump out to an early 15-6 lead. An 8-0 Huskie run cut it to a 19-18 game with 7:30 left in the first half.
Houston Baptist never led in the first half but they did tie the game twice in the final two minutes before SHSU took the halftime lead.
Amanda Barnes added 15 points for the Kats while Fife was the only other Sam Houston player to score in double figures with 10 points.
Shanice Steenholdt led the Huskies with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Rachel Arthur was the only other HBU player to score in double figures.
The Kats will have next Thursday off before returning to Johnson Coliseum to host Lamar Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
