Despite a sixth consecutive 20-point scoring performance by Shernise Robertson, the Sam Houston State women's basketball team lost 87-68 to first-place Lamar. The win for the Cards placed them in a tie for first with Northwestern State.
Robertson led all scorers, finishing with 29 points, four rebounds and three assists. She was 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.
The Bearkats had 28 turnovers, which is the most by the team in Southland play this season. Sam Houston gave it away 12 times in the first half, leading to 15 points off of turnovers. The Cardinals finished with 30 points off turnovers.
“We had 28 turnovers in this game and they scored 30 points off of those turnovers and that's something we've got to do a better job of,” SHSU head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols said. “We didn't have enough scoring from post players tonight and that hurt us.”
SHSU led 18-11 early before Lamar went on a 10-0 run to take a 21-18 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. LU would grow the first-half lead to as many as 13 points.
Lamar hit seven three-pointers in the first half as they held a 44-34 lead at halftime. The Cardinals' Shauna Long was 5-for-5 from beyond the arc and had 17 points going into the locker room. Long finished with 19 points.
In the second half, SHSU cut the lead to eight points before JaMeisha Edwards came down the floor and hit a three-pointer to get the lead back to double digits.
Robertson made three free-throws to cut the lead to six points, but again Lamar came back down the floor to hit a three-pointer.
The Cardinals would put the game away from their, extending their lead to 19 points to end the game.
Edwards was the leading scorer for Lamar with 22 points, while Kiandra Bowers and Addesha Collins each added 16.
Taylor Dorsey was the only other Bearkat player to score in double figures with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Sam Houston will be back in action Saturday as the Bearkats host Houston Baptist Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN3.
“Every game from here on out is a battle. The schedule we have left is very tough and we have to play every game like it's the championship game,” Nichols said.
