Clash at Bernard Johnson Coliseum: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Western Kentucky Lady Toppers
As the Sam Houston State Bearkats prepare to host the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers at Bernard Johnson Coliseum, fans are eager for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Bearkats have shown resilience and tenacity in their recent performances, despite some challenging statistics that might suggest otherwise.
In their last game on December 21 against the Utah Valley Wolverines, the SHSU team put up a valiant fight but fell short with a final score of 69-73. The game was fiercely competitive, featuring 11 ties and 14 lead changes. One notable aspect of that performance was the Bearkats' ability to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 22 points off them. However, they struggled with field goal percentages at only 24 percent overall and an even lower three-point percentage of just 19 percent.
The previous matchup on December 19 saw SHSU face off against SMU Mustangs in Dallas. Despite shooting slightly better from beyond the arc at nearly 32 percent and securing more steals (10), they were edged out by a narrow margin with a final score of 64-69.
Looking back further to December 16 reveals another close contest where SHSU hosted Texas-Arlington Mavericks right here at Bernard Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats showcased their defensive prowess with an impressive number of steals (10) and points off turnovers (30), yet it wasn't enough as they lost by just one point in a nail-biting finish, ending at 65-76.
Despite these setbacks, there's reason for optimism as SHSU returns home where they've previously demonstrated strong defensive capabilities and an ability to force turnovers which could be pivotal against WKU. Their free throw accuracy has been commendable too; hitting over half their attempts is no small feat under pressure.
The Lady Toppers will certainly pose a challenge; however, if SHSU can maintain their aggressive defense while improving shot selection and execution from both inside the paint and beyond the arc, there's every chance this upcoming game could swing in favor of our home team.
Fans should mark their calendars for February 1st when these two teams will face off at Bernard Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville starting at 6:30 PM local time (CT). While no broadcast networks have been announced for this game yet, loyal supporters can surely find ways to follow along live or catch updates as they happen.