Bearkat women find ways to win

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January 23, 2010

Alexander hits clutch shot in overtime, helps SHSU snap 15-game losing streak to UTA

By Gene Schallenberg The Huntsville Item Sat Jan 23, 2010, 11:05 PM CST

It didn’t seem to matter how steep a challenge was put in front of the Bearkat women. They weren’t about to let Saturday’s game against Texas-Arlington slip away despite having plenty of chances to do so.

With a 15-game losing streak against the Mavericks fastened firmly in their minds, the Bearkat seniors stepped up when they had to.

With the game knotted at 75 with just seconds to play in overtime, Sam Houston State senior guard Ray Alexander took matters into her hands. Alexander breezed past UTA guard Kiara Parker and banked in a shot on an off-balance runner as she was fouled by Parker.

Alexander missed the ensuing free throw for a chance to make it a three-point game, but it turned out not to be of consequence in the end.

Mavericks forward Veronica Mergerson rebounded the ball, but UTA failed to move past midcourt and attempt a last-second shot, which clinched the 77-75 overtime victory for the Kats.

“We had a lot of moments in this game where things changed,” Sam Houston State head coach Brenda Nichols said. “Every player participated when those opportunities arose. The seniors stepped up. Ray did exactly what she was supposed to do. I wanted the ball in her hands. She’s the general. That’s what she was supposed to do.

“I told them right before we went into overtime, we’ve already played 40 minutes of hard basketball with a lot of moments. Now we’ve got to play five more.”

Alexander, who finished with 15 points and nine assists, set up the game-winning basket after coming up with another big play a few seconds earlier.

The Bearkats, who improved to 2-2 in conference play and 5-11 overall, trailed 74-73 with 22.7 seconds left. Sam Houston State senior Brittany Brooks had a chance to tie the game or give the Kats the lead but missed on both free-throw attempts, an occurrence which was frequent as the Kats sunk just 12 of 30 shots from the charity stripe.

Needing to get the ball back somehow, Alexander stepped up. Alexander stole the ball, her fifth of the game, and sprinted to the basket for an easy layup to give the Kats a one-point advantage.

Kats senior post Whitney Smith, who finished the day with 16 points and 12 rebounds, fouled out following the inbounds pass. UTA guard Kiarra Shorner then tied the game at 75 after making the first of her free throws with 11.5 seconds remaining.

“As a senior I try to step up and be a big leader. I had to bring it home for my team,” Alexander said.

“This is big for us. Ever since I’ve been here in my freshman year, we’ve never beat UTA.”

In fact, it was the first time in eight years that the Sam Houston State women have defeated Texas-Arlington.

“To finally come in and finally beat UTA was great. We’ve got a good future here,” Alexander said.

The Kats would not have had the opportunity to tip UTA in overtime if not for Smith’s crucial basket at the end of regulation.

Sam Houston State trailed by two after UTA guard Kiarra Shorner made the second of two free throws with 9.2 seconds to play in the second half.

With time winding down, Smith, who dribbled the ball up the court, had her back to the basket and put a nifty spin move on the defender, banking in the game-tying jumper from 12 feet away with 2.2 seconds left.

Alexander then stole the ball off the inbounds pass, but couldn’t get a shot off in time.

“It was just a total team effort,” Nichols said. “Our girls are just pumped up. We just got over that Texas State hump and we hadn’t beat UTA since 2001. We’re on a roll now. We’ve got Lamar coming up and they’re a good team.”

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Bearkat women find ways to win

Alexander hits clutch shot in overtime, helps SHSU snap 15-game losing streak to UTA

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