Feb. 9, 2008
HAMMOND, La. - Despite a season-high scoring performance from sophomore forward Brittney Williams, the Lady Cardinals dropped fell 73-67 to the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana at the University Center on Saturday afternoon in Hammond, La.
The Lady Cards fall to 13-8 overall and 6-2 in Southland Conference play with the loss. Southeastern improved to 9-13 overall and 3-6 in conference play with the win.
The Lady Lions were in control for the majority of the game as the Lady Cardinals struggles to get into a rhythm both offensively and defensively. Southeastern built their first half lead to as much as 14 points, not allowing LU to take advantage of their offensive strength in the paint.
Lamar closed the gap to eight points by halftime at 33-25 and steadily worked their way back into the game in the second half. They took their first lead since the first half with 7:51 to play on a Brittney Williams jumper, going up 50-49.
After scoring on their next possession to go up by three at 52-49, the Lady Cards went cold again from the field and SELA used a 9-0 run to take a 58-52 lead with 4:21 to play.
The Lady Lions again opened their lead up to double digits, going up by 10 points with two minutes to play in the game. They held onto their lead down the stretch with the clutch free throw shooting of Brooke Necaise, who finished with a career-high 28 points.
The Lady Cardinals got it to within four points with five seconds to play, but that was a s close as they would get as Necaise sank a pair of free throws with less than a second to play to seal the game.
Brittney Williams finished the game with 27 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lady Cardinals, while Tamara Abalde scored 20 points for the fifth time in six Southland Conference games. Nikki Williams also finished with double digit scoring, adding 13 points.
As a team the Lady Cardinals out shot Southeastern 40.7 percent to 34.5 percent, but the Lady Lions won the rebounding battle 43 to 35.
The LU women will be back in action on Thursday at 7 p.m. when they take on the UTA Mavericks in Arlington, Texas.
