HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston women's basketball led by 10 entering the fourth quarter, but the Jax State Gamecocks found their groove in the final stanza and held on to scrape by with a 58-56 win at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. 

Sam Houston (6-15, 1-8 CUSA) outscored the Gamecocks (9-12, 4-5 CUSA) 17-5 in the third quarter to go up 43-33 with just 10 minutes left to play; however, JSU held the Kats without a made field goal for nearly seven minutes to open the fourth quarter, outscoring SHSU 14-3 during that span to retake the lead.  

Raanee Smith had the only two made field goals of the quarter for the Kats, with her second knotting the game up at 53-53 with only 34 seconds to play. But JSU's Mya Barnes responded on the other end with the biggest shot of the game, a straightaway 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net with just 16 seconds left in the game to put the Gamecocks in front for good and deny the Kats their second win of CUSA play. 

Smith finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, but it was Shanti Henry who led the team with a season-best 17 points, including two of the Kats' four made 3-point baskets. Kassidy Dixon added a dozen points; however, Sam Houston was hindered by 24 total turners, one more than JSU for the night. 

The Bearkats have the weekend off before traveling to FIU on next Thursday to battle the Panthers for the second time this season. Tipoff is set for 10:00 AM CT and is set to be aired on ESPN+.