Kats on to Edinburg for Thanksgiving Tourney
11/24/2016 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Games 5-6
Friday, Nov. 25 – Saturday, Nov. 26 • Edinburg, Texas • UTRGV Fieldhouse (2,500)
Sam Houston State (0-2) at UTRGV's Feast On The Border
Live Stats • Game Notes • @BearkatsWBB on Twitter
EDINBURG, Texas – Sam Houston State women's basketball begins a season-high eight-game road trip on Friday, taking on Marshall as part of UTRGV's Feast On The Border at 4:30 p.m. The Bearkats return Saturday to face UTRGV at 7:00 p.m.
The Bearkats (0-4) are searching for their first win in their first tournament of the season. Sam Houston dropped a 69-45 decision to UTRGV on Monday in Huntsville, falling behind 23-6 at the end of the first quarter while a challenging third quarter halted any comeback bid.
Despite the tough start to the season, several newcomers have posted strong individual beginnings including Kiera McKinney, a freshman from Amarillo. The 6-2 post recorded a Sam Houston season-best 15 points against Wiley last Friday. One game later against UTRGV, McKinney tallied 10 rebounds.
Sam Houston has continued to control the boards in its first four games, winning the rebounding battle in each. Sam Houston outrebounded Arkansas 38-35; TCU 50-37; Wiley College 50-36 and UTRGV 45-37.
Among Southland Conference competitors, Sam Houston ranks third in offensive rebounding (44.3 per game), fourth in defensive rebounding (36.3 per game) and third in rebounding margin (8.0). Sam Houston senior Jasmine McCants ranks 10th in the Southland in rebounds per game (7.3) while Ashleigh Cooper is 16th (6.0). Angela Delaney (5.3) and Rachel Harrell (5.3) also crack the top 25 at 23rd.
Rachel Harrell, who sank a pair of buckets behind the arc on Monday against UTRV, is tied for ninth in three-pointers made (6). Senior Morghen Day, who made her 90th appearance on Monday, is sixth for minutes played (101) while McKinney is second in the Southland for blocked shots (6).
Friday's meeting between Sam Houston and Marshall will be the first in program history; however, the Kats have been no stranger to facing Conference USA opponents. The Thundering Herd will be the sixth opponent from the league the Kats have faced all-time, joining Rice, Louisiana Tech, UAB, UTEP and UTSA. Sam Houston is a combined 22-54 in those games.
Like Sam Houston, Marshall boasts a largely new lineup, with three of its projected starting five classified as underclassmen. The Thundering Herd are off to a 3-0 start, posting wins at Illinois as well as home victories against Florida A&M and Coastal Carolina.
Meanwhile, UTRGV's victory against Sam Houston on Monday was the squad's first in six tries at Johnson Coliseum. The win moved the Vaqueros to 2-2 on the season with victories against North Texas and the Kats. Despite the loss, Sam Houston is 8-3 all-time against UTRGV and is 2-2 all-time on the road against the Vaqueros.
Following the 404-mile trek to the Valley, Sam Houston returns closer to home, closing out the month of November at Rice on Tuesday before visiting Prairie View A&M one week from Friday. For the latest on the program, follow @BearkatsWBB on Twitter and visit GoBearkats.com.
