Location Huntsville, TX Colors White and Orange Arena Bernard Johnson Coliseum | Nickname Bearkats Home Away Conference Southland Conference | |
University Sam Houston State University Head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols (9th year) | ||
The Sam Houston State Bearkats women's basketball team is the women's basketball team that represents Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. The team currently competes in the Southland Conference. The Bearkats are currently coached by Brenda Welch-Nichols.
History
The Bearkats have played since the 1969-70 season, They reached the Southland Tournament finals in 2013 and 2016, losing to Oral Roberts 72-66 and Central Arkansas 69-62, respectively. They played in the TWIAFAF Texas Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (TAIAW) from 1969-1982, the Lone Star Conference (Division II) from 1982 to 1984, and the Gulf Star Conference (Division II) from 1984 to 1987 until they settled into the Southland Conference, starting play since the 1987-88 season. They have reached the WNIT once, in 2013, losing to Tulane 65-57. They also participated in the 2012 Women's Basketball Invitational, beating Rice 73-55 but losing to Northern Iowa 78-69. The most wins the Bearcats have had in one season was 27 in 1981-82, with the most Division I wins being in 1987-88, 1995–96, 2011–12 and 2012–13, with 18. They have a 575-708 all-time record as of the end of the 2015-16 season.