The Sam Houston women's basketball team opens its 2009-10 season with a pair of exhibition games Saturday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 6:30, both at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkat women host Texas A&M-International Saturday afternoon, a squad coached by David Beaver, an assistant at Sam Houston the past two years.

 "We're really looking forward to having Coach Beaver back in Johnson Coliseum Saturday," SHSU head women's coach Brenda Nichols said. "David played a big role in the recruiting of several players on our team and I know he's looking forward to seeing how they perform as well as his own team. Our players are also excited just for the opportunity to play a real game. This is going to be fun seeing what they can do in competition."

Sam Houston's women's team finished tied for seventh place in final overall 2009 Southland standings, the Bearkats' highest conference ranking since the 2000 Sam Houston squad was fourth in the Southland.

The Bearkats posted league victories over Stephen F. Austin, Lamar, Central Arkansas, McNeese and swept Texas State both home and away a year after going winless in the Southland. The team's 7-5 record at home in Johnson Coliseum marked Sam Houston's best season performance in the facility in the last 10 years. Three Bearkats players averaged in double figures in 2009, something that hasn't happened in Huntsville since 2002.

"Getting knocked out of the tournament by the tiebreaker last year hurt," Nichols said. "Sam Houston State hasn't been to the post season tournament since 2004 and we're determined to get there this year. We return 51.6 of our 67.5 points per game plus we've brought in another big recruiting class. Once you get to the tournament, anything can happen."

The Sam Houston women look to have strong leadership from four seniors who all were starters last year. Three -Whitney Smith, Brittany Brooks and Ray Alexander -- have been with the program for four years.

"Brittany, Ray and Whitney are the heart and soul of this program," Nichols said. "Their leadership is vital to our success this year."

Smith, a 5-11 forward, is a three-year starter who begins her senior season ranked No. 11 in Bearkat career scoring with 864 points and No. 8 in SHSU career rebounds (489). She averaged 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds as a junior in 2009.

 Brooks, a 5-5 guard who led the Bearkats in scoring with a 10.7 average in 2009, begins her senior season ranked No. 7 in SHSU all-time assists (270). Alexander, a 5-4 guard, is a fifth-year senior with career totals of 412 points.

The fourth senior is 6-0 Therese Hager who started 23 games as a junior college transfer in 2009. She was a defensive standout for the Bearkats.

 Bre Agnew, a 6-2 sophomore who started 15 times at post last year, will be a key factor for Sam Houston's inside game. Agnew averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Khamra Echols, a 5-5 sophomore guard, brings additional depth on the perimeter after averaging 5.7 points per contest in 2008-09.

To further strengthen the Bearkats for the 2010 campaign, Nichols and her staff have recruited three junior college transfers and three high school seniors.

 LaTisha Morgan, a 6-2 post player from Moberly Area Community College in Georgia, played on a state championship team in high school. Terrah Austin, a 6-0 forward from Blinn College, ranked third in her NJCAA region in rebounding with 9.0 boards per contest. Lauren Tippet, a 5-7 forward, comes to Sam Houston from San Jacinto College.

The new freshmen include 6-0 forward Sequeena Thomas, 5-9 guard Chanice Smith and 6-0 forward Clarke Davis. Thomas averaged 15.1 points and 12 rebounds as an all-state forward at Parkland High School in Allentown, PA last year. Smith scored 10.1 points per game leading Mansfield Timberview High School to a 36-4 record and the Texas Class 4A state finals. Davis, who played on a state championship team in Murfreesboro, TN, as a sophomore, averaged 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds for Mansfield High School as a senior.

Admission to Saturday's exhibition and Monday's contest against McMurry is free.