Shernise Robertson scored 19 points and was 10-of-10 from the free-throw line to lead Sam Houston State to a 59-55 win over Incarnate Word in the Southland opener for both teams. The Bearkats had a slow start to the season but sit 1-0 in league play after the win.

The Bearkats led for almost the entire game and never trailed in the second half.

Robertson made six straight free throws in the final minute of the ballgame to keep Incarnate Word from rallying. The junior transfer scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half. She also had four rebounds and three assists.

Morghen Day scored 14 points and was 4-of-5 from three-point range. The sophomore guard was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half and led all scorers with nine points at the break. Day led the Kats with nine assists.

Sam Houston held a lead for more than 18 minutes of the first half and the Bearkats were up by as many as 10 points. Shadijah Moore scored the first basket of the game before Incarnate Word answered to tie the game. The Cardinals never led in the first half.

Moore finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Saundra Guillory pulled down nine rebounds and added two points from the free-throw line.

The Cardinals were led by Aricka Adams, who scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds. Shanise Brooks added 11 points and had nine rebounds.

UIW kept the game close in the second half, including cutting the Bearkat lead to two points in the final seconds.

Sam Houston is back in action Monday night against Northwestern State. The Bearkats and Demons tip off at 5:30 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum.