Jan. 29, 2011

BEAUMONT, Texas - Jenna Plumley handed out her 500th career assist en route to a double-double to lead the Lamar University women's basketball team to a 79-62 win over visiting Nicholls in a Southland Conference game at the Montagne Center on Saturday.

Plumley, who had 14 points and 10 assists for her third double-double of the season and 10th of her career, was one of two Lady Cardinals to finish with a double-double. Kalis Loyd collected 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and 11th of her career.

Plumley's 10 assists moved her to 502 for her career, including her two seasons at Oklahoma. She has 330 as a Lady Cardinal, second on Lamar's all-time list despite playing just 53 games in a Lamar uniform.

"If you get into our system and get open," Jenna will find you," Lamar coach Larry Tidwell said. "If you run hard, Jenna will find you."

Lamar (16-4 overall, 5-1 SLC) had four starters score in double figures. Jasmin Henderson scored a career-high 20 points, while Monique Whittaker finished with 16 points as the Lady Cardinals ran their winning streak to four games. The win moved Lamar to within a half-game of East Division leader McNeese State, as the Cowgirls dropped a 74-73 decision at Central Arkansas on Saturday.

"What really pleased me was the way our starters played," Larry Tidwell said. "But we need to get more production from our bench. We need to rebound better, execute better and finish at the room when our starters aren't in."

Lamar won the rebounding battle in this one, 44-36, but Tidwell wasn't happy with the 24 turnovers, which were seven more than the 17 committed by Nicholls. When the Cardinals maintained possession, they were quite lethal, shooting 50.8 percent (30-of-59) from the floor.

"If we cut that figure in half, we score in the 80s or 90s," Tidwell said. "We had way too many turnovers today."

Ricshanda Bickham led Nicholls (6-14, 1-6) with 20 points and seven assists. Sumar Leslie added 15 points for the Colonels, who shot just 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field.

Lamar played without leading rebounder Trashanna Smith, who injured her nose in practice earlier this week.

"She had to get four stitches the other day," Tidwell said of Smith. "We held her out as a precautionary measure."

Lamar returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday with a conference game at Southeastern Louisiana before hosting UTSA at 2 p.m. Feb. 5 in a game that will be televised on the Southland Conference network.

LAMAR