Game 17 Preview: at FIU

Game 17 • at FIU
Miami, Fla • Ocean Bank Convocation Center (5,000)
Sam Houston (11-5, 4-1 CUSA) vs FIU (10-6, 3-2 CUSA)
Thursday, January 22 • 6:00 PM CT

TV: ESPN+ (Corey Brooks, Ethan Eibe, Cam Dobbs)
RADIO: BSN (Stephanie Keele); KSHU 90.5 FM
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_WBB
Series vs the Panthers: FIU leads 3-1

MIAMI – The Sam Houston women's basketball team will look to bounce back from its first loss in Conference USA play on Thursday when it faces FIU at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Tipoff for the game is set for 6:00 p.m. CT with live coverage on ESPN+.

The game can also be heard online on the Bearkat Sports Network and the Bearkat Athletics app with Stephanie Keele moving behind the mic for the Kats for the 2025-26 season.

KEY ROAD SWING UP NEXT FOR THE KATS
- Sam Houston fell from the ranks of CUSA unbeatens on Saturday, seeing its 6-game win streak come to an end with a 68-67 loss to Middle Tennessee. Still, the Bearkats find themselves in a 4-way logjam of teams with just one loss in league play entering this weekend's games at FIU and Missouri State

- The Kats will be seeking their first-ever win at FIU, trailing the all-time series by a 3-1 margin. SHSU earned its first-ever win over the Panthers in the second meeting of last season, winning 66-54 in Huntsville behind 20 points and nine rebounds from Pop Inmon

- The Kats are currently tied for second place in conference play at 4-1 alongside Louisiana Tech and Missouri State, a half game behind 5-1 Middle Tennessee

- Sam Houston has won its last three games away from home, it's first 3-game road win streak since the 2022-23 season. They have not won four road games in a row since 2021-22 when they won games at UTRGV, Dixie State, Utah Valley and Lamar in the program's first season in the WAC

- Sam Houston has held four opponents under 40 points in 2025-26 after entering the year having only so seven times in program history, the last time coming in 1988

- The Kats' 4-1 mark in CUSA play is its best start to a conference-play slate since starting 8-0 in the Southland in the 2019-20 season

- The Bearkats lead the CUSA and is ranked third nationally, averaging 27.62 turnovers forced per game in 2025–26.

- Sam Houston is the only team in the nation with three players ranked in the top 35 in steals per game, led by Fanta Kone (7th, 3.81), Aysia Ward-Strong (29th, 2.88), and Deborah Ogayemi (32nd, 2.81).

- The Bearkats feature three double-figure scorers for the second time this season, led by Whitney Dunn, whose 17-point outing against Middle Tennessee lifted her average to 10.3 points per game, joining Kone (12.6 ppg) and Ogayemi (11.1 ppg)

- Dunn led the Kats in scoring for the second straight game vs MTSU. She closed non-conference play averaging 9.0 ppg but has reached double figures in 3 of 5 CUSA games, upping her average to 12.0 ppg in league play

Game 17 Preview: at FIU

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Players Mentioned

Whitney Dunn

Fanta Kone

Deborah Ogayemi

Aysia Ward-Strong

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