March 7, 2009

THIBODAUX, La. - The Lamar University women's basketball team used a dominant second half to snap their three game skid, closing out the regular season with a 67-55 win over Nicholls State at Stopher Gym.

With the win the Lady Cardinals improve to 19-10 overall and 10-6 in Southland Conference play. Nicholls State finishes the year at 2-25 overall and 2-14 in the SLC with the loss.

Trailing 35-30 at halftime, the Lady Cardinals used a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes to assume control of the game. Nicholls got within three points with baskets on their next two possessions, but it was as close as they would get as the LU defense locked down the Lady Colonels.

The Lamar defense held Nicholls to just 11 points over the first 18 minutes of the second half, picking up seven steals while forcing 10 turnovers. While the defense was overwhelming Nicholls, the LU offense was just as efficient, as Lamar shot 58.3 percent from the field to run away with the victory.

Nikki Williams and Emily Spickler led the second half surge for Lamar, with Williams scoring seven of her team-high 15 points in the second half. Spickler caught fire from behind the three point arc, draining four three pointers to lead LU with 12 second half points.

Spickler finished the game with 14 points and was joined in double digits by Williams and Trashanna Smith who poured in 12 points. Darika Hill led Lamar with a game-high 13 rebounds, while chipping in nine points.

As a team the Lady Cards shot 51.1 percent for the game, knocking down 24 of their 47 shots from the field, while Nicholls shot 38.9 percent, going 21-54 from the field. Lamar also won the rebounding battle, grabbing 32 rebounds to Nicholls 30.

Lamar will be back in action on Wednesday, in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas.