Kats host HBU in key game Saturday at 2 p.m.
1/30/2015 2:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Sam Houston women's basketball team plays host to Houston Baptist Saturday in a game critical to the Bearkats' hopes of earning a berth in the 2015 league post-season tournament in Katy in March.
The Kats and the Huskies battle at 2:05 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The contest opens a men's and women's basketball doubleheader that will be televised on ESPN3.
With two victories in their last three games, the SHSU women have fought their way back into contention for the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy March 11-14.
The top eight finishers in the regular season standings earn berths in the tournament. Sam Houston stands among the top eight with a 4-5 record following victories last week over Abilene Christian and preseason league favorite Stephen F. Austin.
Houston Baptist brings an 8-11 season mark and stands 2-6 in league action. The Huskies desperately need a victory if HBU is to remain in contention for one of the eight tournament berths.
An improved shooting percentage and solid team play have helped the SHSU women turn their season around. During pre-Southland play, Sam Houston shot less than 40 percent from the field in seven of their 10 non-conference games.
But the Kats are shooting 44.9 percent from the field in league play. The women have not had a game below 41 percent against a Southland opponent.
Shernise Robertson, a 5-6 junior guard, is the conference's top scorer. The transfer from Tyler Junior College is averaging 18.8 points for the season and 22.9 in league games. Robertson has a string of six consecutive games with 20 or more points including 31 points at Nicholls and 30 against McNeese State.
Robertson sees teamwork as a key to the Kats improving play on the floor.
“We're finding the chemistry as a team,” Robertson said. “We're focused right now and know that if we keep working the ball around and finding the good shot, we can hang with anybody in the league.”
Sophomore guards 5-6 Taylor Dorsey and 5-6 Morghan Day add 13.1 and 7.0 points per contest, respectively.
Junior Shadijah Moore, senior Jazmin Wiley and freshman Saundra Guillory led the Kats under the boards. The trio have combined for 19.6 points and 18.1 rebounds per game in league contests.
The return of several players who missed early season games has also helped the team's depth. Seeing more action are senior forward Jasmine Robinson and junior guard Salli Clavell.
Houston Baptist seeks to stop a two-game losing streak that has seen the Huskies fall in home games to both Lamar and Abilene Christian.
Shanice Steenholdt leads HBU in scoring with 17.8 points a game. The 6-0 senior forward who has totaled 1,686 points during her career has not played in the Huskies' last two contests. Steenholdt is the Southland's top rebounder with 10.3 boards per game.
Other HBU players averaging in double figures are 6-4 senior guard Tayler Jefferson (10.1 points per game) and 5-10 junior forward Monet Neal (10.1).
Next up for the Sam Houston women following Saturday's game with Houston Baptist will be a home contest with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Johnson Coliseum on Saturday February 7 at 2 p.m.
