Nov. 27, 2009

WACO, Texas - Trashanna Smith had a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Lamar University women's basketball team to a 66-58 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round of the World Vision Classic at Baylor University on Friday.

Brittney Williams had 20 points and seven rebounds for Lamar (4-1) as the Lady Cardinals ran their winning streak to four games. Williams moved just two points Sandra Thomas' career point total of 1,268 for sixth on Lamar's all-time list.

"Brittney was strong in the paint," Lamar coach Larry Tidwell said. "We have to keep getting the ball inside to her."

Lamar trailed by six points, 34-28, early in the second half before taking control of the game in the second half. The Lady Cardinals shot 41.5 percent from the fields (17-of-41) in the second half after going just 9-of-33 (27.3 percent) in the first half.

"We still have some things to work on, but we're 4-1," Tidwell said. "We'll take that."

Mercedes Johnson had a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead Louisiana-Lafayette (1-2). Alexis Green added 17 points for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Lamar will continue play in the World Vision Classic with a game against Idaho at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and against eighth-ranked Baylor at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both games will be broadcast live on Lamar's athletic Web site www.lamarcardinals.com.

LAMAR