Game Info
WKU (13-8, 4-2 CUSA) at Sam Houston (5-13, 0-6 CUSA)
Thursday, February 1 | 6:30 p.m.
Huntsville, Texas | Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum
Watch: ESPN+
Links: Listen (ESPN 102.7/Varsity Network) | Live Stats | Game Notes
About the Lady Toppers
- WKU is off to a 4-2 start to league play with wins against Liberty, Sam Houston, Jacksonville State and UTEP. The Lady Toppers are in third place in the CUSA standings, one game back from FIU and two back from first-place Middle Tennessee.
- Acacia Hayes is WKU's and CUSA's second leading scorer, putting up 15.8 points per game. She also leads the conference in total points (315).
- Alexis Mead is the conference's steals leader with 43 on the season. She's second in the league in assists with 84. In conference play, Mead is averaging 12.0 points (14th), 5.2 assists (2nd), 4.8 rebounds (14th) and 2.5 steals per game (1st). She is the only player in the conference to rank in the top 14 of all four categories.
- Destiny Salary is the second leading scorer for WKU after 10 games played this season. She's putting up 15.2 points per game, including two 25-point performances (vs. West Virginia State and vs. UTEP).
- WKU is forcing teams into 20.24 turnovers per game this season, which is the second highest average in CUSA and 32nd highest in the nation. On those turnovers, the Lady Toppers are averaging 11.0 steals per game which is the most in the league and 24th in the NCAA.
- The Lady Toppers finished non-conference play with wins against Mercer, Southern Utah, Cornell, Miami (OH), Bucknell, Vermont, Abilene Christian, Nevada and West Virginia State for a 9-6 record.
- WKU was picked to finish tied for second place in the CUSA preseason coaches poll released earlier in October. The Lady Toppers are coming off a second place CUSA finish in 2022-23, a championship game appearance in the CUSA tournament and a WNIT berth.
- Hayes and Mead were named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team in October.
Series History
- Thursday's game will be the second all-time between WKU and Sam Houston.
- The two teams played earlier this season in Bowling Green with the Lady Toppers earning a 76-60 win.
Sam Houston Notes
- The Bearkats are second in the nation in offensive rebounding, pulling down 17.8 offensive boards per game. Sam Houston is also third in the nation in free throw attempts with a 25.56 per game average and fifth in the country with 17.33 free throws made per game. The Bearkats are forcing teams into 22.00 turnovers per game which is the 10th highest average in the nation.
- Raanee Smith is the nation's fourth leading offensive rebounder, averaging 5.1 per game. She's the conference's second leading overall rebounder, pulling down 9.0 boards per game.
- Diana Rosenthal is the team's leading scorer, putting up 12.0 points per game. The Bearkats have four players averaging double digits, including Sydnee Kemp (10.9 PPG), Smith (10.5 PPG) and Kaylee Jefferson (10.4 PPG).
Up Next
- The Lady Toppers will stay on the road to take on Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
