Jan. 6, 2009

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University women's basketball team used an explosive offensive effort to close out their non conference schedule with a 109-63 win over the Paul Quinn College Lady Tigers Tuesday night at the Montagne Center.

The win boosts the Lady Cards record to 9-4 on the year, their best non-conference record since 1992. The Lady Cards, who ran their home court winning streak to nine games dating back to last season, put up their largest point total since the 1995-1996 team scored 109 points against TCU.

After bolting to a 38-point halftime lead Tuesday night, the Lamar left no suspense as to the outcome of the game, but the second half was not without its own suspenseful moments. The Lady Cardinals had a couple of milestones, in their sights with 20 minutes to play, and the second half saw them fall.

First, there was the suspense over whether the Lady Cards could hit the 100-point barrier for the first time since the 2004-2005 season. When Emily Spickler knocked down a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Lady Cards a 100-54 lead with 4:44 left, one feat was accomplished.

Then there was the matter of whether the Lady Cards could break the school record for free throws in game. When Ang Green sank a freebie with 1:01 to play in the game, it was the 35th free throw made by LU in the game. The Lady Cards finished with a stellar mark at the free throw line, making 38 of 44 for 86.4 percent and breaking the previous school record of 34 in a game vs. Northwestern State in 1990.

In the first half Lamar blew the game open with a 29-3 run that stretched a seven point game from 16-9 to 45-12. Spickler drained two three pointers and Nikki Williams, Darika Hill and Green each had one during the LU scoring explosion which led to a 56-18 halftime lead.

While posting a 62.5 shooting percentage by making 15 of 24 shots from the field, Lamar also dominated on defense in the first half, holding the Lady Tigers to 5-for-38 shooting in the first half, a 13.2 percent effort. They blocked seven first-half shots and out-rebounded the Lady Tigers 27-20.

Spickler, who hit five of seven 3-point attempts, led Lamar in scoring with a career-high 23 points, while Nikki Williams, who made all 12 of her free throws, had 17 points. Brittney Williams and Green had 16 points each and Hill 15 points.

For the game the Lady Cardinals were red hot from the field, draining 31 of their 53 shots for a season-high 58.5 percent effort. They were also solid from beyond the 3-point arc, making 9 of 18 for 50 percent, their second-best effort of the year. Lamar also won the rebounding battle 47 to 46, while each team turned the ball over 19 times.

The Lady Cards will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they travel to Hammond, La. to take on the Lady Lions of Southeastern Louisiana at the University Center.