Women face challenge Saturday at McNeese
1/15/2016 8:49:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAM HOUSTON (7-8, SLC 3-2) versus McNEESE STATE (10-6, SLC 2-2)
Saturday, January 16 – 1 p.m. – Lake Charles, La.
Radio: KHVL 104.9 FM live play-by-play
IMPORTANT SOUTHLAND ROAD GAME
The Bearkat women will be looking to get back on track after their second Southland Conference loss Wednesday to Nicholls 67-63 on Sam Houston's home floor. The Kats and the Cowgirls ranks fourth and fifth in the current league standings. Six of Sam Houston's next seven games will be on the road.
BEARKATS VS. COWGIRLS SERIES RECORD
Sam Houston and McNeese meet for the 52nd time in women's basketball Saturday in Lake Charles. The Cowgirls lead the all-time series with 27 victories to 24 for the Bearkats. McNeese has won five of the last six games including a 79-74 win in Huntsville in 2015. The Kats last win over the Cowgirls was a 60-53 home victory in 2013.
LAST TIME OUT – NICHOLLS 67 SAM HOUSTON 63
Nicholls held off a late Kat rally for a 67-63 victory in Huntsville Wednesday night. Three Sam Houston players scored in double figures with Angela Beadle totaling 18 points, Shernise Robertson 16 and Amanda Barnes a season best 14 points (including a 4-for-8 night from 3-point range).
McNEESE SCOUTING REPORT
The Cowgirls have won three of their last five games and stand undefeated (6-0) at home in Burton Coliseum. McNeese holds Southland Conference victories over Houston Baptist and A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cowgirls lost in road contests at Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin.
Two McNeese players, Jayln Johnson (13.1 points per game) and Allison Baggett (11.8 points per game) own double figure scoring averages.
COACH BRENDA WELCH-NICHOLS SAYS
“Wednesday's loss against Nicholls was disappointing. But the good thing about the conference season is you don't have time to dwell on a loss. You have to get ready for the next game and we've got a tough one Saturday. McNeese is always tough, especially at home where they are undefeated this year. We've got to contest shots better and cut down on the mistakes.”
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE STATISTICS RANKINGS
For the second year in a row, Shernise Robertson is leading the Southland in scoring with a 16.9 average. Angela Beadle stands No. 2 in rebounding (9.0) and No. 15 in scoring (12.9). Robertson ranks 7th in assists (3.1).
SAM HOUSTON IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
The Bearkat women posted a 4-6 record in the non-conference portion of their 2015-16 schedule. The victory total included a pair of road victories with the Kats defeating LIU-Brooklyn 63-56 in New York and Texas Southern 53-51 in Houston with home victories over Our Lady of the Lake and LSU-Alexandria.
ANGELA BEADLE MOVING UP
Senior center Angela Beadle has moved up to No. 14 in Sam Houston women's basketball all-time scoring with 1,063 points. She now ranks No. 4 in all-time Bearkat women's rebounds (819) and third in career blocked shots (148).
SHERNISE ROBERTSON CLIMB IN SCORING TOO
After leading the Southland Conference in scoring as a junior transfer in 2015, Shernise Robertson has climbed to 20th in Sam Houston career scoring with 784 points. Her career average of 18.8 points per game is tied as the best in Bearkat women's annals. Sam Houston Athletic Hall of Honor member Sherry Pfister averaged 18.8 points from 1980 to 1983. Sam Houston head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols averaged 17.8 points in her two seasons as a Bearkat from 1988 to 1989.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Sam Houston was picked to finish 10th in the 2016 Southland Conference women's basketball race according to the annual preseason poll of the league's head coaches. Lamar is the preseason favorite according to the poll. The Cardinal women have claimed two regular-season titles in Southland Conference history with the most recent coming in 2014 after posting a 13-5 league mark.
