Kats to tussle with SLU on Wednesday
1/29/2019 3:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Game 18
Wednesday, Jan. 30 • Huntsville • 6:30 p.m. • Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum (6,100)
Sam Houston State (9-8, 4-3 Southland) vs Southeastern Louisiana (8-10, 3-4 Southland)
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HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats will look to bounce back from a tough loss on Saturday afternoon when they host Southeastern Louisiana at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum on Wednesday evening.
The game is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum and can be watched on ESPN+ with Matt Pedersen on the call and Matt Trent providing analysis. Fans can follow along via live stats, or get updates by following @BearkatsWBB on Twitter.
The game is the third in a four-game home stretch for the Bearkats, their longest in conference play this year, that includes contests with each of the current league leaders. Coach Ravon Justice's team had pushed its record to 4-2 in the league until running into Lamar on Saturday, falling to the league-leading Cardinals by an 83-72 margin. The Kats will also host rival Stephen F. Austin on Saturday to cap the homestand, a Ladyjack team who, like Lamar is also undefeated in league play.
Currently, the Bearkats sit in sixth place in the league with Southeastern and McNeese just a game back; however, for SLU to pull even with the Kats, it would mean picking up the Lady Lions' first road win in conference play this year.
SLU is coming off a 58-47 win at Northwestern State on Saturday, closing the game with a 19-4 fourth quarter to pull away. The Lady Lions are averaging just 56.6 points per game, but boast one of the top scoring threats in the league in Celica Sterling who ranks third in the SLC with 16.4 points per game.
Much of that damage has been done from beyond the arc where she leads the SLC with 49 made 3-point baskets this year.
Meanwhile, the Bearkats sport one of the top offense's in the SLC with a 72.3 points-per-game average. Lately they have been led by freshman Amber Leggett who is coming off a career night in the loss to Lamar. The freshman forward pumped in 29 points against the Cardinals – the third-most ever for a SHSU freshman in a single game – and had nine boards and five rejections.
Jaylonn Walker still leads SHSU with 14.6 points per game for the year, and will be looking to get going once again after being held in single digits in each of the past two games.
SERIES vs SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
Wednesday will be the 40th meeting between the Lady Lions and Bearkats with SLU holding a 21-18 advantage. SHSU has controlled the all-time series in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the two Southland rivals. Southeastern's last win in Huntsville came in the 2009-10 season, while last year's SHSU win in Hammond was the Kats' lone win in SLC play in 2017-18.
