Sports Update For Feb. 25

MEN'S BASKETBALL

The Bearkats stand 10-8 in SLC action and 14-11 for the season which ranks Sam Houston State fifth in the current league standings with two games to go. Only the top four teams in the final regular season standings host first round games. Texas-San Antonio is in fourth place with a 10-7 SLC slate.

The Kat men have lost three of their last four games, falling to Southwest Texas State Saturday afternoon 72-69. Senecca Wall continues to pace the Bearkats with 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.9 steals per game (ranking among the SLC's leaders in all four categories).

Tonight is the final home regular season game for three Bearkat seniors -- Wall, Jeremy Burkhalter, and Wesley Watkins. The three will be honored in pregame ceremonies. Sam Houston State will complete Southland Conference regular season action Saturday, March 3, at Lamar University in a 1 p.m. game. The first round of the post season tournament will be held Tuesday, March. 6.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The loss dropped SHSU into an eighth place tie with Southwest Texas, both with 5-14 conference marks. However, SWT swept the series with the Kats this year which would give the Bobcats the tiebreaker for the final berth in the playoffs.

The Kats still have a chance to earn that berth, however, if they can win their final regular season game this Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at Lamar. Abakwue leads the women this year with 16.7 points and 11.2 rebounds.

BASEBALL

Last week, behind two-hit pitching by senior Joe Fowler, Sam Houston State handed a 2-1 loss to Texas A&M at Holleman Field on Tuesday. Fowler struck out 10 Aggies. Fowler has also been named the Southland Conference Baseball "Pitcher of the Week" for the week of Feb. 19-25. See complete story.

This past weekend, at the Alamo Classic in San Antonio, the Bearkats defeated Texas-Pan American 6-4, then lost 6-4 to Saint Mary's University and 7-4 to nationally ranked Notre Dame.

SOFTBALL

The Bearkats dropped their first Southland Conference softball series of the season to Stephen F. Austin. Saturday, SHSU lost to SFA by scores of 5-4 and 5-3. Sunday SFA posted a 6-0 victory.

Last Thursday, Sam Houston State defeated Prairie View A&M in a doubleheader 5-0 and 8-0.

MEN'S GOLF

Doug Sinitierre led the Bearkats with a fifth place individual finish with a 54-hole score of 75-69-68--212. Jeff Grace placed 13th and Ryan Polzin was 16th individually. The Bearkats finished behind team champion Southeastern Louisiana and the University of Mississippi. A total of 15 teams participated in the event.

Next action for the Bearkat golfers is the Louisiana Classic in Lafayette on March 12-13.

WOMEN'S GOLF

WOMEN'S TENNIS

The Kats traveled to Colorado State to face three national powers this past weekend. Sam Houston State lost to Colorado State 7-0, Bowling Green 6-1, and the US Air Force Academy 7-0.

TRACK AND FIELD

Sam Houston State is expected to be among both the top men's and women's outdoor teams this spring. The Bearkats placed fifth indoors in women's track and field and seventh in men's. Several top Bearkats redshirted during the indoor season and SHSU excels at several field events that are not held indoors.

Chris Stewart (long jump), Carol Dyer (800 meter dash), Karina Mancias (5000 meter run), Precious Madison (long jump), and Sharonda Haynes (shot put) all earned All-Southland Conference honors at the recent SLC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

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Media Contact: Paul Ridings
Feb. 25, 2001
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