PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — The Sam Houston Bearkats used a dominant first half and a relentless defensive effort to cruise past the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions 78-44 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the HPER Complex.

Sam Houston seized control from the opening tip, outscoring Pine Bluff 21-10 in the first quarter and holding the Lady Golden Lions to just six points in the second period to take a commanding 37-16 lead into halftime. The Bearkats never relented, extending their lead in each subsequent quarter to secure the victory.

The game was defined by Sam Houston’s defensive pressure, which forced Arkansas-Pine Bluff into 31 turnovers. The Bearkats converted those miscues into 32 points and tallied 20 steals as a team. Offensively, Sam Houston capitalized on its opportunities inside, scoring 42 points in the paint.

Nyla Inmon led all scorers with 20 points for Sam Houston. The Tyler, Texas, native added six rebounds, four assists and a block in 34 minutes of action. She was complemented by Fanta Kone of Bamako, Mali, who orchestrated the offense with 17 points and six assists. Whitney Dunn of Chicago chipped in 12 points for the Bearkats.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff was led by Jailah Pelly of St. Louis, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Golden Lions struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 1 for 7 from three-point range and posting an offensive rating of 56.7 points per 100 possessions.

With the win, Sam Houston improves its season record to 2-1. Arkansas-Pine Bluff falls to 1-2. The Bearkats return to action Monday at home against Prairie View. The Lady Golden Lions host Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday.