16-8,9-4CUSA
Kennesaw State
12-13,5-9CUSA
Kats complete season sweep of the Owls
2/19/2026 10:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Sam Houston Bearkats completed the season sweep of the Kennesaw State Owls with a 72–66 victory Thursday night at VyStar Arena.
Sam Houston (16-8, 9-4 CUSA) carried a 10-point advantage into the fourth quarter before Owls (12-13, 5-9 CUSA) mounted a late push, using a 9-0 run over the final four minutes to tighten the contest. The Bearkats responded by forcing the Owls into foul trouble down the stretch and converting key free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
Whitney Dunn led the Bearkats with a career-high 22 points, marking her second 20-point performance of the season and her third consecutive double-figure outing. Fanta Kone added 15 points, recording her ninth double-digit scoring performance in Conference USA play.
Aysia Ward-Strong and Nyla Inmon each finished with 10 points, marking the sixth time this season Sam Houston has placed four or more players in double figures. Lea Salinas also set new career highs, finishing with 17 minutes played and six points.
The Bearkats created separation in the third quarter, outscoring Kennesaw State 23-17 while using a pair of 6-0 runs in the final minutes of the period. Kone and Ward-Strong sparked the defensive effort with three steals apiece as Sam Houston totaled 13 steals as a team, while Ward-Strong also added two blocks.
Inmon paced the rebounding effort with nine boards, finishing just one rebound shy of her third double-double of the season.
Sam Houston forced 22 turnovers and converted them into 22 points, continuing a season-long trend of forcing at least 20 turnovers in every conference game.
With the victory, the Bearkats clinched a spot in the conference tournament and moved into a tie for second place with the MTSU in the league standings.
Sam Houston returns to action Saturday, traveling west to face Jacksonville State at Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville, Alabama.
