HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Sam Houston overwhelmed visiting McMurry with an early surge and rolled to a 111-59 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats, playing a non-divisional opponent, improved to 1-0. McMurry, the visiting team, fell behind early and could not recover. Sam Houston scored 111 points from 97 possessions, an offensive rating of 114.1, while McMurry scored 59. Attendance was 392.

The decisive stretch came in the first quarter. McMurry’s Gracie Hunter made a layup and a 3-pointer early to help the visitors take a 5-2 lead, and Lexi Wishert’s 3-pointer cut Sam Houston’s lead to 14-12 with 5:18 left in the quarter. From there, Sam Houston took control and did not allow another McMurry point in the period. Taylor Spencer made a layup, Mar’Cyah Willis added a layup and Hannah Wallace hit a jumper. Leanna Pabst made free throws, Fanta Kone scored on a tip-in, Spencer made another layup, Lanaijha Johnson converted a tip-in, Willis made a free throw and Kylah McCullers made two free throws and a layup. Kone added another tip-in, Laila Harrison made two free throws and Kone closed the quarter with a layup as Sam Houston built a 39-12 lead. The 25-0 run to end the first quarter turned a tight opening stretch into a rout and stood as the most important part of the game.

Sam Houston kept the margin comfortable. Kone opened second-quarter scoring with a free throw and a 3-pointer. Deborah Ogayemi and Johnson worked inside, Ruke Ogbevire made free throws and Willis hit a 3-pointer and a layup. McMurry got scoring from Alexis Dockter, Wishert, Ashlynn Galvin and Leah Mitchell, but Sam Houston led 63-29 at halftime. In the third, Spencer and Wallace scored early, Ogayemi converted a tip-in, Ogbevire made a free throw and Willis hit a 3-pointer. Galvin remained productive for McMurry, and Dockter and Wishert added baskets, but Sam Houston’s lead reached 88-48 after three quarters.

Sam Houston put the game away in the fourth. Esther Rodellar made a layup and added a tip-in with a free throw, Harrison made a layup and free throw, Wallace scored repeatedly around the basket, Ogbevire made a jumper and free throws, Spencer made two free throws and Johnson added a jumper. McMurry got late 3-pointers from Kyndil Harris and Hunter, and Jessica Makayabo made a layup and free throw, but the Bearkats’ lead never was threatened. Sam Houston finished with 16 offensive rebounds, 15 assists and 15 turnovers, reflecting a fast pace and plenty of second-chance opportunities. McMurry finished with 59 points.

Fanta Kone was Sam Houston’s top star with 16 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in 22 minutes. Hannah Wallace added 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. Taylor Spencer scored 17 points and grabbed four rebounds in 20 minutes. Deborah Ogayemi had eight points, seven rebounds and one assist in 21 minutes. Lanaijha Johnson contributed nine points and four rebounds in 18 minutes. Esther Rodellar added six points, five rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes. Laila Harrison had seven points and two rebounds in seven minutes. Ruke Ogbevire scored 12 points and had one assist in 15 minutes. Mar’Cyah Willis scored 12 points and added one rebound and two assists in 16 minutes. Leanna Pabst had four points and one rebound in 15 minutes. McMurry’s Galvin was the visitors’ most consistent scorer across the play descriptions, while Hunter and Wishert provided early and late baskets.

Sam Houston next plays at Houston, then hosts Jarvis Christian, visits Northern Colorado, visits Louisiana-Monroe, hosts Pepperdine, hosts Texas-Rio Grande Valley, visits Mississippi State, visits Texas A&M, hosts Wichita State and hosts UNT Dallas.

No point spread, betting line, over-under or game simulator projection was available for the game.