BEAUMONT, TX -- Sequeena Thomas grabbed 14 rebounds and scored 16 points including a basket with 2:56 remaining in the contest that proved to be the game winner as Sam Houston State edged Lamar 59-57 in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night.
Chanice Smith also scored 16 points and Britni Martin added 10 as the Bearkat women remained unbeaten with three league wins while Lamar dropped to 3-1 in Southland play.
Kalis Lloyd scored 20 points and Caren Baylor added 14 for Lamar. Baylor scored on a lay-up with 4:36 to play to tie the game 57-57.
From that point on, Lamar missed seven straight shots while Sam Houston went just one out of three attempts and turned the ball over three times in the final four minutes. But Thomas’ two-pointer was enough to earn the Kats a road victory.
“It was a hard fought game and we’re just happy to be walking out of the gym with a victory,” Sam Houston head coach Brenda Nichols said. The Bearkats now stand with Central Arkansas as the only two undefeated teams in the Southland Conference basketball race.
Smith helped keep the Bearkats in the hunt while the Cardinals were busy double-teaming SHSU leading scorers Martin and Thomas. The senior guard hit four of her five three point attempts.
Sam Houston also had a good night at the line, hitting 10 of their 15 free throws.
The Bearkats travel to Lake Charles, La., Saturday to face McNeese State.
