BEAUMONT, Texas — Entering Saturday’s contest against the University of Incarnate Word, Lamar University’s women’s basketball, in the midst of a three-game skid, found themselves trailing 21-10 in the second quarter.
But with one ginormous run, LU’s Cardinals erupted to a smashing 72-52 victory over UIW’s Cardinals. Lamar University is now 9-9 overall and 3-4 in the Southland Conference.
Akasha Davis led LU with 26 points, which was one shy of her career-high, on 11-of-14 from the field. Malay McQueen, 14 points, Sabria Dean , 11 points, and Portia Adams, 11 points, each combined for 36 points on nine three-pointers.
LU also assisted on 22 of 27 made field goals with Adams and Dean each picking up six. In total, LU converted 50.9% from the field.
UIW started the game off with seven straight points before LU got on the board. UIW would make it difficult for LU to get anything going offensively as they would hold LU to four-of-11 from the field.
Meanwhile, LU’s defense could contain UIW, who had a 50% field goal percentage in the first quarter and grabbed an 18-8 lead after the first.
Following a Davis lay-up to open the second, UIW converted a three that gave themselves a 21-10 lead. Suddenly, the good Cardinals caught fire as they went on a stunning 28-7 run that turned an 11-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead.
In what started as a 26-3 stretch, LU converted six three-pointers between Adams, Dean, and McQueen while Davis tallied 10 points in the paint. LU’s lead would be at 38-28 by half-time after a quarter that saw them score 30 points on just 61.1% from the field.
LU also held UIW to 33.3% from the field.
While the half might’ve changed to open the third quarter, LU’s hot streak did not as they opened the third on a 17-2 run meaning LU went on a 45-9 run surge since trailing by 11 points in the second.
Davis continued to work inside the paint scoring 10 points, including seven straight at one point. LU took command shooting a season high 72.7% in the third quarter while hold UIW to 15.4% from the field as they led 59-32 through three-quarters.
Since trailing 18-8 in the first quarter, LU outscored them 51-14 to that point.
UIW did open a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 61-41 with 7:08 to go in the fourth. Determined not to have another fourth quarter slip-up, the Cardinals build a 9-5 run that elevated their lead to 70-46. In the end, LU secured their 72-52 win over UIW.
LU will end their three-game home stand with a 5:00 p.m. showdown against Texas A&M-Commerce this Thursday night.