Feb. 21, 2008

CONWAY, Ark. - Behind and offensive outburst by Tamara Abalde and Nikki Williams the Lamar University women's basketball team snapped their three game skid with a 64-57 win over the University of Central Arkansas Sugar Bears at the Farris Center in Conway, Ark.

The win improves the Lady Cards record to 14-10 overall and 7-4 in Southland Conference play, while UCA falls to 6-19 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

After watching a 12 point second half lead get dwindled down by a scrappy UCA squad, the Lady Cardinals used clutch shooting from the field and at the free throw line to hold on for the win.

Leading by three, and in the middle of a 14-8 UCA run, Nikki Williams drained a three pointer from the right wing with 1:59 to play to give LU a six point lead at 60-54. Williams then sealed the victory for Lamar by scoring their final four points of the game, icing the game with a pair of free throws with 31 seconds to play.

The Lady Cards, who finished the game 17 of 19 from the free throw line, made 13 of 14 in the second half. They closed out the game and kept the game out of reach by sinking their final six free throws.

In the first half the Lady Cardinals used a 12-0 run over the final 6:46 to take a 29-19 lead into the locker room. The run was capped off by a three pointer by Abalde with 15 seconds to play, giving her 10 points in the opening half.

Abalde finished the game with the second highest point total of her career as she registered a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Williams scored 20 points with a 4-6 effort from behind the three point arc. Aida Bakhos led all players with a career-high 14 rebounds.

Central Arkansas was led by Jamye Adair who scored 15 points, while Kia Lee scored 11 points.

The Lady Cardinals out shot UCA 36.4 percent to 35.1 percent while winning the rebounding battle 43 to 32. The Lady Cardinals defense collected 15 steals and tied a season-high with seven blocks. Trashanna Smith led LU in blocks with a career-high four swats.

The Lady Cards will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Northwestern State Lady Demons at 2:00 in Natchitoches, La.