HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A huge block by Shanice Steenholdt that came at the right time with under a minute to play along with three critical Tayler Jefferson free throws in the waning seconds helped lift the HBU women's basketball team to a 63-62 win over Sam Houston State Saturday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum.

The win was HBU's (9-12 overall, 5-5 SLC) first over the Bearkats since a 51-48 win in Huntsville on Dec. 11, 2010. SHSU now leads the all-time series, 5-3. Steenholdt earned her 11th double-double of the season, as she had team highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds. She also had all five of the team's blocks, matching her career high. Rachel Arthur scored 10 points, while Heidi Sihvola and Anna Strickland came off the bench to score eight and nine points, respectively.

Sam Houston State (10-11 overall, 5-5 SLC) was led by Angela Beadle with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Amanda Barnes scored 15 points and Nyha Carter pulled down 10 rebounds.

SHSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Huskies rattled off six-straight to tie the game at six-all following jumpers by Steenholdt and Jefferson and two made free throws by Monet Neal.

That was the last time the score would be tied until 14 minutes later, as the Bearkats led by as many as nine and as few as one on several occasions. Trailing, 19-10, with 10:46 remaining in the first half, HBU scored eight unanswered to trail 19-18 with 7:45 to go, as Steenholdt had six of the eight points.

HBU finally tied the Bearkats as Heidid Sihvola's three-pointer at the 1:54-mark knotted the game at 25-all. The Huskies had a chance to take their first lead of the game as SHSU turned the ball over on its next possession, but the Huskies couldn't put the ball in the hoop. Jasmine Johnson made two free throws to give the Bearkats a two-point lead, but Strickland's layup tied the game at 27-27 with 36 seconds remaining in the opening half. Beadle gave SHSU a two-point lead going into the locker room as her layup with eight seconds to go gave the Bearkats a 29-27 lead.

Steenholdt led all players with 10 points and she had a team-best eight rebounds in the first half. Beadle scored nine points and pulled down a half-best nine boards.

After a long two-pointer by Erin McGarrachan gave the Huskies their first lead of the contest early in the second half, the Huskies double-teamed the in-bounds pass, forced a turnover, and Jefferson made a layup to give the Huskies a three-point lead, 34-31, with 18:08 remaining in the second half. HBU started the second half on a 7-2 run to change the momentum.

SHSU eventually tied the game and took a one-point lead, 39-38, following a free throw by Beadle, but the Huskies used a 7-2 run to take a six-point lead, 46-40, with 10:42 remaining in regulation. An Arthur layup gave the Huskies their largest lead of the game, 50-41, and forced SHSU to call a timeout with nine minutes remaining in regulation.

HBU led by as many as 11 before the Bearkats used a 13-6 run to cut the Huskies' lead to just two, 57-55, with 2:40 remaining in regulation. A three-pointer by Summer Fife with just under two minutes remaining gave SHSU a one-point lead, 58-57; its first lead since two minutes into the second half.

Steenholdt made an and-one play following an HBU timeout to give the Huskies a two-point lead, 60-58. A huge block by Steenholdt resulted in a shot clock violation on SHSU and the Huskies still with a two-point lead with 26 seconds remaining in regulation. After the Huskies couldn't increase their leads, Beadle was fouled in the act of shooting with 13 seconds to go. Beadle missed the first and made the second to make the score 60-59 in favor of the Huskies. Jefferson made three of four free throws give the Huskies a four-point lead. That third free throw proved crucial as the Bearkats hit a half-court shot to make the final score, 63-62.

HBU heads back on the road to play at Abilene Christian next Thursday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 pm, followed by Incarnate Word at Feb. 8 2 pm.