BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Sam Houston never got in a rhythm in 76-60 loss to Western Kentucky at the E.A Diddle Arena on Wednesday.  

Raanee Smith lead the team in scoring with 12 points and was just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. Shanti Henry and Diana Rosenthal added 10 each in the loss. 

The Bearkats (5-9 overall) picked up their second loss in Conference USA play as the Lady Toppers (11-6, 2-0) took the reins offensively. Western Kentucky's Destiny Salary put up 19 points and was hard for the Bearkats to stop.  

Sam Houston shot just 37.5 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from behind the arc. The Lady Toppers shot a blistering 50 percent from the floor and 40 percent from long range. 

The Kats were withing striking distance in the first quarter down 26-20. WKU outscored Sam Houston by 13 points in the second quarter to seize control of the game. 

The Bearkats will return to Johnson Coliseum on Saturday to face Middle Tennessee at 2 p.m. to be aired on ESPN+.