Women take on Colonels Thursday night
1/15/2015 8:06:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Two teams trying to stay on a winning track will duel Thursday night when the Sam Houston State women's basketball team tackles Nicholls at 7 p.m. at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux, La.
The contest marks the SHSU women's third consecutive road game in Louisiana. The Bearkats bring a 3-11 season mark and a 2-2 Southland record into the contest.
Sam Houston comes to Thibodaux off a 75-59 win at New Orleans Saturday. The Kats also played well in a two-point loss at Southeastern Louisiana one week ago. The SHSU women overcame a 15-point deficit in the final six minutes to tie the contest with 11 seconds left to play. The Lions won 65-63 on a buzzer-beating floating layup.
Nicholls looks to push its winning streak to a season-long three games. The Colonels stand 6-8 for the year and are 2-1 in league action.
Nicholls has won back-to-back games, mostly in part to its team defense. After holding Houston Baptist to 58 points, the third lowest for an opponent on the season, the Colonels smothered Abilene Christian to secure their first road win of the year. ACU entered the game averaging more than 74 points per contest, and Nicholls limited the offense to nearly half of its average in the 63-39 victory.
Colonel guard Jenny Nash had a team-high 19 points in the win over ACU and is leading the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game.
On the defensive end, Nicholls has climbed up to fifth in the NCAA in steals per game, averaging 12.8 per game.
The Bearkat offense is led by juco transfer Shernise Robertson, who ranks fifth in the Southland at 15.4 points per game. In conference play, Robertson is at 16.8 points and has made 11 3-pointers. Taylor Dorsey is averaging 14.8 points in Southland play, followed by Shadijah Moore at 12.0 ppg.
Sam Houston leads the all-time series, 32-18, helped by its last-second win at home last season. The Colonels looked to be on their way to a win on the road, but the team went ice cold at the free throw line, allowing the Bearkats to rally back before a 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Sam Houston a 51-50 win.
Thursday's contest completes a three-game road swing for the Bearkats. The Sam Houston women play host to McNeese State in the opening game of a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
