HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston landed the first, middle and final punches to knock out Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-48 at Johnson Coliseum on Saturday.
The Bearkats jumped on the Golden Lions right out of the gate to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Deborah Ogayemi scored the first basket as Sam Houston opened with an 8-0 run with
Aysia Ward-Strong and
Fanta Kone also making shots.
The Golden Lions finally scored, but Sam Houston quickly answered as Kalia Kelley and Ward-Strong both connected on shots to push the lead to 12-1. A 6-0 run with Ward-Strong, Ogayemi and
Whitney Dunn all contributing to close the first quarter put the game out of reach.
The Bearkats kept the pressure on in the second half. Dunn made a pair of free throws and Ogayemi scored to give Sam Houston's its biggest lead at 46-22 midway through the third quarter.
Ward-Strong led the Bearkats with 19 points, and Ogayemi turned in an all-around stellar performance with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Kone just missed out on a double-double as well with nine boards and 10 points, and Kelley finished with 10 points.
Sam Houston shot 39 percent from the field while holding Pine Bluff to just 33 percent. The Bearkats used their trademark defense to force 17 turnovers and turn it into 21 points.
The team returns to action on Dec. 5 when McMurray comes to Huntsville for an 11 a.m. tipoff. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
