Game 31 Preview WNIT Edition: at Portland

Game 31 • at Portland
Portland, Ore. • Chiles Center (4,852)
Sam Houston (18-12, 11-7 CUSA) vs Portland (18-14, 11-7 WCC)
Thursday, March 19 • 8:00 PM CT

TV: ESPN+ (Bryan Sleik)
RADIO: BSN (Stephanie Keele)
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @Bearkats_WBB
Series vs the Pilots: First Meeting

PORTLAND, Ore. – Sam Houston earned an at large bit to the WNIT for just the second time in program history when they take on Portland in Portland, Oregon on Thursday at Chiles Center.

Tipoff for the game is set for 8:00 p.m. CT with Bryan Sleik 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 FOR FIRST WNIT WIN

- The Bearkats previously earned an at-large bid during the 2012-13 season after finishing as co-champions of the Southland Conference with an 18-15 record. Sam Houston fell 65-57 to Tulane in the opening round

- The 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

- Sam Houston finished tied for third in Conference USA this season, posting an 18-12 overall record and going 11-7 in conference play. The Bearkats were eliminated in the conference tournament quarterfinals after an 89-57 loss to Liberty.

- 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

- Picked to finish seventh in the preseason poll, Ravon Justice's squad exceeded expectations and earned the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, the program's highest seed since joining Conference USA. The Bearkats also will be looking to add onto their best season since the 2019-20 campaign when they went 19-10

- The Bearkats 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 first meeting between the two teams

- Sam Houston earned their first bid to the WNIT since 2013 where they fell to Tulane 57-65 in the first round after becoming co-champions of the Southland

Game 31 Preview WNIT Edition: at Portland

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