Feb. 16, 2008

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University women's basketball team dropped their third straight contest on Saturday, falling 69-53 to Texas State at the Montagne Center.

The Lady Cards opened the game strong, jumping out to a seven point lead midway through the first half, behind the strong inside play of Brittney Williams who knocked down her first three shots. Lamar led 19-12 with 9:05 to play before Texas State found their offensive spark.

The Bobcats clawed their way back over the final nine minutes of the half, using a 19-6 run to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room at halftime. Joyce Ekworomadu led the way for Texas State with 11 points during the first 20 minutes.

In the second half the Bobcats continued to hold off the Lady Cardinals who could not get their offense to click enough to complete a comeback against a steady offense and defensive effort from Texas State.

LU closed to within six points with 16:04 to play, but could not get any closer. The Lady Cardinals knocked down just seven of their 23 shots in the second half as Texas State hit 12 of 34 from the field.

Brittney Williams led the way for LU with 16 points while Nikki Williams chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds. Aida Bakhos led all players in the game with 11 rebounds.

Texas State was led by Ekworomadu's 24 points, the only Bobcat to score in double figures in the game.

As a team Lamar out shot Texas State 38.3 percent to 36.8 percent from the field, while the Bobcats won the rebounding battle 42 to 38.

The Lady Cards will be back in action on Thursday night when they take on the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at 7 p.m. in Conway Ark.