Game 30 Preview: vs Liberty

Game 30 • vs Liberty
Huntsville, Ala. • Propst Arena (10,000)
Sam Houston (18-11, 11-7 CUSA) vs Liberty (17-12, 11-7 CUSA)
Thursday, March 12 • 11:30 AM

TV: ESPN+ (Corey Spector, Kelley Deyo, Annette B Cory)
RADIO: BSN (Stephanie Keele)
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_WBB
Series vs the Flames: 1-5

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Sam Houston closed out the regular season as the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seed Liberty in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship Tournament at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama, looking to avenge last season's quarterfinal loss to the Flames.

Tipoff for the game is set for 11:30 a.m. with Corey Spector, Kelley Deyo, and Annette B Cory on the call courtside 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.

KATS LOOK TO FAN FLAMES IN QUARTERFINALS REMATCH

- This is the third straight CUSA Tournament for the Kats', holding in at 1-2 all-time in the event, winning their first game in the tournament last year with a first-round 55-53 win over Jax State

- Bearkats lead Conference USA and rank fifth nationally by forcing 25.5 turnovers per game, including 12 games with 25+ forced turnovers. Sam Houston has forced 20 or more turnovers in 27 of its 29 games this season, with Rice and Jacksonville State being the lone exceptions

- The No. 4 seed is the highest the Bearkats have earned since joining Conference USA in 2023–24. Sam Houston entered last season's tournament as the No. 8 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals. In their first CUSA Tournament appearance in 2024, the Kats were seeded ninth and fell to UTEP in the opening round

-Sam Houston ranks eighth nationally and leads Conference USA in turnover margin (+7.90) while also ranking eighth in the nation and leading the conference in steals per game at 13.6

- Bearkats are looking for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance. Sam Houston's only postseason appearance came in 2013 when the Kats advanced to the WNIT after winning the Southland Conference Championship

- Sam Houston rank 50th nationally and second in Conference USA in scoring defense, allowing 58.8 points per game. Sam Houston also leads CUSA and ranks 26th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (14.8) while ranking 16th nationally in free throw attempts per game

SERIES HISTORY

- This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the schools, since the Bearkats moved to CUSA in 2023-24 season

- Sam Houston were knocked out of the CUSA Championship tournament last season with a 51-78 to Liberty

- The Bearkats dug deep to knock off the defending Conference USA champion Liberty, 59–53, at Liberty Arena for their first ever win over the Flames.

- Deborah Ogayemi paced Sam Houston with a season-high 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording her second straight and fifth double-double of the season. Nyla Inmon narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 15 points and nine boards, while Fanta Kone added 12 points, knocking down both Bearkats' makes from beyond the arc.

Game 30 Preview: vs Liberty

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nyla Inmon

Fanta Kone

Deborah Ogayemi

Footer