Sequeena Thomas scored 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Sam Houston beat Nicholls State 74-60 to remain in a tie for first place in the Southland Conference.
The Bearkats jumped out to a blazing hot start to the game. Britni Martin and Chanice Smith hit back-to-back three-pointers in the first minute as SHSU had an 18-3 lead after the first four and a half minutes.
Nicholls State rallied at the end of the half to cut the Bearkat lead to ten points at the break, 36-26. The Colonels held the Kats scoreless in the final 4:25 of the first half.
Angela Beadle scored a career high 19 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive side. Chanice Smith chipped in 11 points and six assists.
Britni Martin scored just seven points but dished out ten assists.
The Bearkats never let Nicholls get closer than eight points in the second half and led by double digits for most of the way. The Colonels got within 60-52 with 4:29 left to play before the Bearkats pulled away.
Nicholls was led by Jasmine Scott with 14 points. KK Babin chipped in 12 points and Alisha Allen had 11.
“We’ve got three games left and the big thing is to play in the now,” said head coach Brenda Nicholls. “We can’t look too far ahead. We’ll celebrate this until midnight but then it’s on to the next game.”
The Bearkats will host Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for Senior Day.
