HUNTSVILLE - Sam Houston erased an 18-point, fourth-quarter deficit to secure its first Conference USA win over WKU in overtime, 87-81, at Johnson Coliseum on Thursday.

The Bearkats (6-13, 1-6 CUSA) never led until the extra period, and never trailed in the final five minutes of play to to pick up their first win in CUSA and  finish off the Lady Toppers.

Kaylee Jefferson carried the Kats for the bulk of the night with a career-high 26 points, nailing a quartet of 3-point baskets; however, it was Sydnee Kemp who got hot late and nailed a pair of free throws in the game's final minute to knot things at 72-72 and push the game to OT.

She kept that going by hitting a pair of 3-pointers to open up the OT period and finished with 17 points of her own. Diarrah Sissoko also added 19, including a key triple of her own in overtime.

The Kats started off sluggish on offense early in the game, not scoring their first field goal until the 4:53 mark in the first quarter. By that point the score was already 12-3 in favor of WKU.

Sam Houston kept itself in the game, thanks to a personal 6-0 run by Sissoko in the second quarter. A late 3-pointer from Jefferson would cut the lead to 11 for the Lady Toppers heading into halftime.

The start of the second half wasn't much better for the Kats. Sam Houston allowed 10 made field goals for WKU despite making six of their own, and found themselves trailing by 18 early in the fourth quarter.

From that moment on, Sam Houston scratched, clawed and most importantly, shot their way back into the game. Making five 3-pointers and converting multiple 3-point plays, thanks in large part to Kassidy Dixon, who had eight fourth-quarter points.

Kemp was held scoreless in the first half, but scored her first points of the game with a deep 3-pointer, and would shoot the biggest free throws of the season for the Kats to tie up the game. A great contest on the ensuing Western Kentucky shot would force overtime in Huntsville.

Sam Houston did not squander the opportunity in overtime, eventually finding itself leading for the first time all game thanks to a Sissoko 3-pointer. Free throws from Kemp would ice the game away, securing the Kats' first win in CUSA.

The Bearkats will be back in action Saturday against FIU. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. on ESPN+.