BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University women's basketball coach Robin Harmony was obviously disappointed with her team's performance in a 73-51 loss to visiting Northwestern State in a Southland Conference game Saturday afternoon. However, Harmony's displeasure may have been surpassed by the anger and disappointment shown by her players.
 
"We were picked to finish first in the conference and we're sure not playing like that," said sophomore guard Baileigh O'Dell, who had a season-high 12 points. "We're angry. We know we have to play better. The way we are playing is unacceptable."
 
The Cardinals (6-11 overall, 2-4 Southland) found themselves down 7-0 less than three minutes into the game and trailing 24-6 at the end of the first quarter. Northwestern State (11-6, 5-1) shot 69.2 percent (9-of-13) in the first period, while the Cardinals shot just 14.3 percent (2-of-14).
 
The Cardinals ended up shooting 27.1 percent (13-of-48) for the game, a figure that was buoyed by a 7-of-14 effort from the field in the fourth quarter. After three quarters, the Cardinals were shooting just 17.6 percent (6-of-34) from the field.
 
Northwestern State outrebounded LU 41-27 and held a 32-12 advantage in points in the paint over the Cardinals.
 
"We're taking a lot of tough shots, and we're giving our opponents too many good looks," Harmony said. "We're not getting the ball to our post players, and opponents can cheat out and defend the lines more. We have to get the ball inside more."
 
Northwestern State (11-6, 5-1) shot 50 percent from the field (25-of-50) and from 3-point range (9-of-18). The Lady Demons were 13-or-15 from the free-throw line (86.7 percent), hitting their first 11 free throws.
 
Janelle Perez led the Demons with 21 points, as she was 6-of-8 from the field, including 4-of-5 from downtown. She also hit all five of her free throws.
 
"Right now, I think Perez is the best player in the conference," Harmony said. "She certainly played that way today."
 
Kiara Desamours led LU with 14 points. Chastadie Barrs had 11 points for the Cardinals. Laka Blache had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
The Cardinals were without their leading scorer JaMeisha Edwards, who missed her second straight game due to injury. Edwards was honored in pregame ceremonies as Harmony presented her with a ball commemorating her 1,000^th career point.
 
"It's frustrating. We know we can't win if we don't score points," Desamours said. "We have to shoot the ball better."
 
The Cardinals return to action at 7 p.m. Thursday when they travel to Stephen F. Austin. After that, they are back home for two games, hosting Houston Baptist at 2 p.m. Jan. 23 and Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. Jan. 27.
 
It's not time to panic," Harmony said. "We have to go to SFA and get that elusive road win, and then come home for two and try to win those. We have to get into the tournament, and then anything can happen. Maybe being a lower seed will bring us better luck than being one of the top seeds has."
 
Thursday's game at SFA along with all LU home games will be shown on ESPN3. For ticket information for LU home games, all 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE.