With six games remaining in the regular season, the Sam Houston State women's basketball team faces a key home contest Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Kats play host to A&M-Corpus Christi at Johnson Coliseum.
The SHSU women have won three of their last four games and stand atop the Southland Conference West Division with a 7-3 league record.
Central Arkansas (9-1) and McNeese State (7-2), the top two teams in the East, are the only squads with better Southland records. To keep pace with both the Bears and the Cowgirls, Sam Houston needs to keep the winning streak going if the Bearkats are to contend for the number one seed at the post-season tournament in Katy March 6-9.
"Every game is important now and we have to remain focused on the job at hand," SHSU head coach Brenda Nichols said. "Three of our last six are at home and we need to take advantage of that."
Saturday is Sam Houston women's basketball's annual "Pink Out" game with the goal of raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
Fans will have the opportunity to purchase $10 "Pink Out" shirts on the concourse area. Donations (cash only) also will be accepted at the door. Proceeds from the shirt sales and donations support "Relay for Life" and "Play 4Kay" (the Kay Yow Cancer Fund).
Sam Houston defeated the Islanders 65-56 in Corpus Christi January 21. But the Islanders always are difficult opponent for the Bearkat women. A&M-Corpus Christi holds a 12-4 advantage in the all-time series. The Kats have won the last three meetings.
Myeisha Myles, a 6-2 senior center, leads the Islanders with 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Alisa Roberts adds 8.6 points per contest. A 5-7 junior guard, Roberts led A&M-Corpus Christi with 18 points in the loss to the Bearkats.
Junior forwards Britni Martin and Sequeena Thomas continue to rack up the points for Sam Houston.
Martin, who averages 16.2 points per game, has scored in double figures the last eight games in a row including a season best 30 points against Stephen F. Austin.
Thomas, who ranks as the league's top rebounder with 11.7 boards per game, has pulled down double figure rebounds for the last 10 games. Her 19 rebounds at McNeese State last week was a career high.
Angela Beadle continues to make a strong case for Southland "Freshman of the Year" honors, averaging 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. Khamra Echols, Jasmine Johnson and Chanice Smith give the Bearkats additional weapons on the perimeter. Jazmin Wiley, Kaysean Clavelle and Nyha Carter provide depth off the bench.
Following Saturday's game with the Islanders, the women will have a week to prepare for their showdown with Central Arkansas in Conway on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Tickets for Sam Houston State home women's basketball games are available now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
