SALT LAKE CITY – The Lamar University women's basketball team saw its amazing comeback effort fall just short in a 71-67 loss at host Utah in a non-conference game Tuesday night.
 
Lamar (0-2) trailed by as many as 32 points in the third quarter before battling back to put a scare into the Utes (2-0).
 
Freshman Chastadie Barrs had a game-high 21 points to lead the Cardinals. Barrs had career highs in points and assists (five) and equaled a career high with four steals. Barrs had 17 points after intermission to key the LU comeback.
 
Utah seemed to be in total control of the game, leading 54-22 with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter, and 65-40 heading into the final quarter.
 
LU trailed 67-42 with 6:52 remaining in the final period before outscoring the Utes 25-4 the rest of the way, but the deficit proved too big to erase totally.
 
"We showed signs of growth tonight by fighting back from a 32-point deficit," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "We can now use the last two road games as a positive and starting winning and representing Lamar University."
 
Defense keyed the LU comeback, as the Cardinals held Utah to just 1-of-10 shooting from the field and forced four turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, the LU offense went 10-of13 (76.9 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range. The Cardinals were also 10—of13 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
 
Addesha Collins had nine points for LU, while JaMeisha Edwards, Kiandra Bowers and Teleshia Riley had eight points apiece. Edwards moved into sole possession of third place on LU's list for career 3-pointers with 132. Kiara Desamours had eight rebounds to lead LU in that category.
 
Emily Potter led Utah with 18 points. Tanaeya Boclair had 12 points. The Utes were 21-of-23 from the line (91.3 percent), making their first 19 attempts. LU was 18-of-27 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
LU returns home to host Louisiana College at 7 p.m. Thursday in the home opener before traveling to Northern Arizona at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. For ticket information for Thursday's game, call 409-880-1715, or click here.