March 6, 2010

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Lamar University women's basketball team clinched the top seed for the upcoming State Farm Southland Conference Basketball Tournament with a convincing 81-52 victory over visiting Nicholls in the Montagne Center on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Kalis Loyd had her seventh double-double of the season for Lamar (23-7 overall, 13-3 conference), while Lamar's three seniors all scored in double figures in their final regular-season home game. Ashley Crawford tied her career high with 15 points, Darika Hill had 13 points and Brittney Williams added 10 points for the Lady Cardinals.

Jenna Plumley handed out 12 assists for Lamar, which will play Southeastern Louisiana at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament at the Merrill Center in Katy, Texas.

The victory clinched the West Division championship for Lamar. The Lady The victory clinched the West Division championship for Lamar. The Lady Cardinals will be declared conference co-champions along with Stephen F. Austin, the East Division winner. Both teams finished with 13-3 conference records, but Lamar earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of its victory over Stephen F. Austin earlier this season.

"This is a great win for our program," Lamar coach Larry Tidwell said. "I'm very proud of these young ladies."

By clinching the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, Lamar guaranteed itself a berth in the Women's NIT should it fail to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

"We know we'll be playing somewhere after the conference tournament, but our goals is to get to the NCAA Tournament," Williams said.

Ricshanda Bickham led Nicholls (4-24, 1-15) with 18 points. Cassie Hearon added nine points for the Colonels, who missed qualifying for the conference tourney for the fifth straight year.

LAMAR