BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals host archrival McNeese State in their final home game of the year at 7 p.m. Wednesday. It's also Senior Night, as the Cards pay tribute to guard Addesha Collins, the lone senior on this year's team. For the second time in as many home games, the Cardinals will wear special home uniforms with pink trim to help promote awareness for breast-cancer research.
 
In addition, the Cardinals are battling for a spot in next month's Southland Conference Tournament. LU (10-16 overall, 6-9) is tied for the seventh seed with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with three games remaining. The Cardinals and the Islanders are just a half-game ahead of ninth-place Sam Houston State. The top eight teams qualify for the tournament.
 
"We have to get this win at home," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "We have to take care of business. We don't want it to come down to the last day of the season where we need help from other teams to get into the tourney."
 
The Cardinals and the Cowgirls (17-10, 9-6) meet for the second time in less than a week. McNeese State rallied from an 18-point deficit to claim a 92-84 win on its home floor on Saturday. Collins and Kiara Desamours had 27 points apiece for LU in the loss. It was the second straight heartbreaking loss for the Cardinals, who squandered a double-digit lead in a two-point loss to visiting Stephen F. Austin on Thursday.
 
"We played well for 30 minutes against SFA, and a little more than 30 minutes against McNeese, but we have to finish it off," Harmony said. "We have to play well for the entire 40 minutes."
 
This is the second time this season the Cardinals have faced the same opponent in back-to-back contests. LU dropped a 90-62 decision at conference-leading Abilene Christian on Jan. 30 before claiming a 63-54 win at the Montagne Center on Feb. 4.
 
"I think it's easier for us to play a team back-to-back," Harmony said. "We already have the scouting plan in place. We just have to go back and correct some things from Saturday. We have to do a better job rebounding. They had 29 offensive rebounds. You can't keep giving a team two and three shots on their possessions."
 
Collins, who leads LU in scoring with an average of 15.7 points per game, will be honored in pregame ceremonies. She has stepped up her game as of late, averaging 25.2 points per game over the last five contests.
 
"You want to send your senior out with a win in their final home game," Harmony said. "Addesha is a fan favorite. She works hard and doesn't know the word quit."
 
LU freshman guard Chastadie Barrs enters Wednesday's game second in the nation in steals. Barrs averages 4.15 steals per game, just behind Ashley Deary of Northwestern, who averages 4.21 steals per game.
 
"Chastadie is just relentless on defense," Harmony said. "She has to be considered for defensive player of the year in our conference."
 
Following Wednesday's game, the Cardinals close out the regular season with a pair of road games. LU is at Incarnate Word at 2 p.m. Saturday before heading to Sam Houston State at 6:30 p.m. March 2.
 
"Right now, our focus is on McNeese State," Harmony said. "We have to take care of business at home."
 
Wednesday's game will air live on KLVI (AM 560) and be shown online at ESPN3. For ticket information, call 409-880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com.