BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's basketball team looks to earn that elusive first road win of the season when it travels to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a Southland Conference meeting with Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Cardinals (6-11 overall, 2-4 Southland) are 0-9 away from the Montagne Center this season. LU enters Thursday's contest a half-game behind Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans, who currently own the final two berths into the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Stephen F. Austin (7-9, 1-4) is a half-game behind LU entering Thursday's night's showdown.
 
"We know it's a big game for us," LU coach Robin Harmony said of the meeting with SFA. "We're both struggling a bit right now. We're looking to get things righted and come away with that first win on the road."
 
The Cardinals will likely be without leading scorer JaMeisha Edwards, who has missed the last two games due to injury. The senior guard leads LU in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. The Cardinals are also without post player Kiandra Bowers, who was injured in the second game of the season.
 
"We have to find a way to overcome those injuries," Harmony said. "We need to have somebody step up."
 
Senior guard Addesha Collins is second on LU in scoring at 14.0 points per game. Collins had her streak of eight straight games of scoring in double figures snapped in Saturday's loss to Northwestern State. Freshman guard Chastadie Barrs averages 9.5 points per game, third on LU. Barrs leads the team with 69 assists and 65 steals. Freshman forward Kiara Desamours averages 8.5 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game.
 
Stephen F. Austin, which has lost four straight games after opening conference play with an 80-55 win over McNeese State, is led by Taylor Ross, who averages 15.4 points per game. The Ladyjacks are 5-3 at home this season, including a 1-2 record in home conference games.
 
Thursday's game will be shown live on ESPN3.
 
The Cardinals will return home right after the game at SFA as they prepare for a pair of home contests. LU hosts Houston Baptist at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. For ticket information for LU home games, please call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE.