SHSU edges SLU, 81-75, to end Lady Lions win streak

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Sam Houston State closed out the game with a 10-4 run to hold off Southeastern Louisiana for an 81-75 victory in Southland Conference women’s basketball action Wednesday night in Johnson Coliseum.

The Lady Lions (10-12, 7-6 Southland) had their five-game win streak snapped in a tight game that featured six lead changes and seven ties. SHSU (16-7, 11-3 Southland) scored 30 points off 23 SLU turnovers on the way to completing the season sweep of Southeastern.

Celica Sterling scored a season-high 24 points to lead three Lady Lions in double figures. Charliee Dugas and Caitlyn Williams added 14 points each for SLU. Southeastern tied a season-high with 18 assists, as Tyler Morrison came off the bench with a game-high seven dimes.

The Lady Lions finished with a 32-28 rebounding advantage, as Wednesday marked the first time SLU has lost a game after outrebounding an opponent. Williams narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds, while Jyar Francis had seven boards off the bench.

Sam Houston State finished with four players in double figures. Jaylonn Walker led the Bearkats with 26 points, followed by Amber Leggett (21 points), Jenniffer Oramas (12 points) and Faith Cook (10 points).

Cook led SHSU with seven assists, while Leggett, Walker and Kiera McKinney each had six rebounds. Leggett paced the Bearkat defensive effort with six steals and two blocked shots.

Sam Houston State jumped out to a 16-4 lead in the opening quarter. Southeastern worked its way back into the game, scoring the final six points off the period to go into the second quarter down, 21-16.

The Lady Lions carried the momentum into the second quarter, as a bucket by Morgan Carrier capped a 13-0 run that gave SLU a 23-21 lead with 6:45 left in the half. Southeastern outscored SHSU, 18-10, in the second quarter on the way to a 34-31 halftime lead.

Sam Houston State retook the lead early in the third quarter, eventually growing the lead to 47-41 after a bucket by Courtney Cleveland with 4:15 left in the period. However, Williams answered with six straight points to knot the score and SLU went into the final quarter facing a 52-51 deficit.

The Lady Lions opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, as Sterling finished a layup to put SLU ahead, 58-52, with 7:45 left. Sam Houston State would retake the lead later in the period, but a Morrison free throw tied the score at 71-71 with 2:03 remaining.

It was all Bearkats down the stretch. SHSU scored seven straight, as a three by Walker capped the rally to give Sam Houston State a 78-71 lead with 49 seconds remaining. SLU would get no closer than five the rest of the way.

Up Next
Southeastern will continue its three-game road swing on Saturday with a 1 p.m. league contest at Nicholls. The Lady Lions-Colonels game will be televised on ESPN3 and can also be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio and Lions Game Day Experience apps.

Southeastern Louisiana 75 (10-12, 7-6 SLC)
Carrier 1-1 2-2 4, Williams 6-8 2-2 14, Jubril 2-2 1-1 5, Sterling 8-14 6-6 24, Horne 1-9 2-2 4, Francis 3-11 0-0 7, Morrison 1-4 1-2 3, Giaratano 0-1 0-0 0, Dugas 6-14 0-0 14, Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 14-15 75.
Sam Houston State 81 (16-7, 11-3 SLC)
Leggett 7-10 5-6 21, Cleveland 4-9 0-0 8, Haynes 1-5 0-0 2, Cook 3-6 3-3 10, Walker 8-11 7-10 26, McKinney 1-3 0-0 2, Oramas 2-8 8-9 12, Jefferson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-52 23-28 81.
End of 1st Quarter – SHSU 21, SLU 16. Halftime – SLU 34, SHSU 31. End of 3rd Quarter – SHSU 52, SLU 31. 3-point goals – SLU 5-12 (Sterling 2-4, Dugas 2-3, Francis 1-5), SHSU 6-12 (Walker 3-4, Leggett 2-3, Cook 1-3, Oramas 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Technical Fouls – Haynes. Rebounds – SLU 32 (Williams 9), SHSU 28 (Three with 6). Assists – SLU 18 (Morrison 7), SHSU 13 (Cook 7). Total Fouls – SLU 22, SHSU 17. A – 646.