Kats back home, face Nicholls on Saturday
1/6/2017 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 13
Saturday, Jan. 7 • Huntsville, Texas • 4:00 p.m. • Johnson Coliseum
Buy Tickets • Sam Houston State (0-12, 0-2 SLC) vs Nicholls (4-9, 1-1 SLC)
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The last time Sam Houston State saw Nicholls, a victory against the Colonels ended up providing an initial spark that ignited into three wins in as many days at the 2016 Southland Conference Tournament.
The Bearkats hope Saturday's game against the Colonels will offer the same boost in what has been a challenging start to the season. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum with tickets – offering admission to the men's game following, as well – starting as low as $5.
Saturday will mark a homecoming of sorts for the Bearkats who last played in Huntsville on Nov. 21. Since that time, the squad has spent eight straight on the road including the first two games of Southland Conference play which resulted in losses at HBU and McNeese.
The third game of league play will also mark the 54th overall meeting between Sam Houston and Nicholls since the programs began playing in 1985. Sam Houston has won seven of the last nine in the series and the Bearkats own an impressive 20-7 record against the Colonels in Huntsville.
In the last meeting, which served as the opening round of the Southland Tournament, seven-seed Sam Houston bounced Nicholls, 73-64, helped by current senior Jasmine McCants, who produced 13 points (6 of 9 shooting) and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes.
While Sam Houston features a largely new-look lineup this year, it has seen a strong showing from its incoming freshmen. The unit has combined to contribute 44 percent of this year's scoring and has contributed more 3-pointers (37) than any other group of freshmen in the Southland.
On Thursday at McNeese, Sam Houston featured a lineup for the second straight game that included four newcomers – three freshmen and junior transfer Jada Ballew. Against the Cowgirls, Ballew posted a season-high 11 points, more than doubling her previous best of 5.
Despite two losses to begin league play, the Bearkats have found their share of positives. On Tuesday at Houston Baptist, Sam Houston's defense held the Huskies to a season-low 20 first-half points and on Thursday, the Kats' offense posted its second-highest point total at 56.
Meanwhile, the Colonels head into the weekend with a 1-1 mark in conference play. In its last action Tuesday, Nicholls sunk 12 3-pointers in route to a 74-54 victory against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The victory snapped a five-game skid for the Colonels.
Following Saturday, Sam Houston will again hit the road, taking part in a two-game swing at New Orleans and Northwestern State. When the Bearkats return, it will be to the tune of four consecutive games in Southland play stretching between Jan. 18-Feb. 2.
