NACOGDOCHES — Stephen F. Austin used a big third quarter to pull away from Sam Houston for a 71-56 victory at William R. Johnson Coliseum on Thursday.
The Bearkats (12-13 overall, 8-7 WAC) led by as many as 10 points in the first half but could not find that spark in the third quarter as the Ladyjacks (23-5, 14-3) outscored them 19-10 to take a 54-42 lead. Sam Houston was playing catchup after that.
Tierney Coleman led the Kats with a career-high 21 points.
Mikayla Woods chipped in 11, and
Madelyn Batista just missed another double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The Bearkats fell behind 6-0 to open the first quarter, but Sam Houston started to heat up.
Woods hit a turnaround jumper and Coleman made a pair of free throws to cut the lead to two. Coleman and Woods each scored baskets to give the Kats an 8-6 lead.
With under four minutes to go in the quarter, Woods and Coleman again scored back-to-back baskets to give Sam Houston a 20-10 advantage, its largest of the game.
The Ladyjacks were able to outscored the Bearkats 19-10 in the second quarter to regain the lead for good and go into the half up 35-32.
Sam Houston stays on the road to face UTRGV on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
