HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston women's basketball team opened a double-digit lead in the second half to come away with an 88-73 victory over USAO at Johnson Coliseum on Wednesday.
 
Faith Cook led the Bearkats (2-2) with 28 points, and Courtney Cleveland scored 19. Damaya Telemaque chipped in 11 points, Madelyn Batista finished with nine points and Kaylee Jefferson just missed a double-double with six points and nine rebounds.
 
Sam Houston shot 44 percent from the floor and 29 percent from behind the arc while scoring 29 points off turnovers.
 
The Bearkats led by as many as 12 at 61-49 in the third quarter when Cook started and capped a 7-0 run by knocking down four free throws. USAO cut the lead to seven, but Sam Houston once again pushed the lead back to 12 at 69-57 to start the fourth quarter on a jumper by Cook.
 
The Kats led by as many as 17 points in the game, the last coming at 86-69 on a basket by Raane Smith with just over two minutes to go in the game.
 
The Bearkats quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead on a 3 by Cook and a layup by Batista, but the Drovers came back to tie it at 11. USAO took the lead at 13-11 and closed the first quarter up 19-17.
 
Sam Houston battled back and retook the lead at 32-29 on a jumper by Batista and a layup by Cleveland. A pair of free throws by Leandra Echi made it a 6-0 run as the Bearkats went into the break on top 40-35 thanks to two free throws made by Cleveland and a layup by Telemaque.