Thursday, March 19
Portland, Ore.
8:00 PM
18-13,11-7CUSA
59
at
62
Portland
19-14,11-7WCC
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
3rd quarter3
4th quarter4
FinalF
Sam Houston
14
11
17
17
59
Portland
18
16
6
22
62
Photo by: Allyson Collins
Kats fall to Portland in opening round of WNIT
3/20/2026 1:46:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sam Houston fell to Portland, 62-59, in an intense battle in the first round of the WNIT.
The Bearkats (18-13, 11-7 CUSA) used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to take a two-point lead after the Pilots (19-14, 11-7 WCC) entered halftime up eight. Both teams traded momentum throughout the second half, but the Kats came up short in the final eight seconds.
Nyla Inmon led the team with 18 points and three rebounds, closing her collegiate career with 600 points and 327 rebounds while recording her 19th double-figure scoring performance of the season. Fanta Kone added 14 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds for her seventh 10-5-5 performance of the year and 20th double-figure scoring game, finishing her career with 620 points, 272 rebounds, and 285 assists.
Whitney Dunn totaled nine points, five rebounds, and two assists, ending her two seasons with the Bearkats with 548 points and 163 rebounds. Deborah Ogayemi recorded eight points and five rebounds, closing her career with 660 points and 406 rebounds, while Aysia Ward-Strong added eight points and four rebounds to finish with 409 points and 332 rebounds in her career.
Sam Houston out rebounded Portland 40-33 and forced 30 turnovers, marking the eighth time this season the Bearkats have forced 30 or more. The Kats also recorded 21 steals, bringing their season total to 419. Kone finished her career with 200 steals, tying LaKeita Richardson (1993-95) for sixth in program history. Ward-Strong added four steals to reach 140 in her career, while Dunn and Inmon each had three.
The Bearkats end the season with their best record since 2019-20, when they went 19-10.
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The Bearkats (18-13, 11-7 CUSA) used a 12-0 run in the third quarter to take a two-point lead after the Pilots (19-14, 11-7 WCC) entered halftime up eight. Both teams traded momentum throughout the second half, but the Kats came up short in the final eight seconds.
Nyla Inmon led the team with 18 points and three rebounds, closing her collegiate career with 600 points and 327 rebounds while recording her 19th double-figure scoring performance of the season. Fanta Kone added 14 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds for her seventh 10-5-5 performance of the year and 20th double-figure scoring game, finishing her career with 620 points, 272 rebounds, and 285 assists.
Whitney Dunn totaled nine points, five rebounds, and two assists, ending her two seasons with the Bearkats with 548 points and 163 rebounds. Deborah Ogayemi recorded eight points and five rebounds, closing her career with 660 points and 406 rebounds, while Aysia Ward-Strong added eight points and four rebounds to finish with 409 points and 332 rebounds in her career.
Sam Houston out rebounded Portland 40-33 and forced 30 turnovers, marking the eighth time this season the Bearkats have forced 30 or more. The Kats also recorded 21 steals, bringing their season total to 419. Kone finished her career with 200 steals, tying LaKeita Richardson (1993-95) for sixth in program history. Ward-Strong added four steals to reach 140 in her career, while Dunn and Inmon each had three.
The Bearkats end the season with their best record since 2019-20, when they went 19-10.
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Team Stats
SHSU
UP
FG%
.358
.455
3FG%
.000
.185
FT%
.647
.636
RB
40
33
TO
24
30
STL
21
15
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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