BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals, coming off of their biggest win of the season, look to keep the momentum going when they host the Incarnate Word Cardinals in a Southland Conference women's basketball game at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Montagne Center.
 
LU (9-13 overall, 5-6 Southland) didn't have much time to savor Thursday's 63-54 win over conference-leading Abilene Christian, getting right back to work on Friday to prepare for Saturday's contest against UIW (6-14, 3-6) as LU looks to get back to the .500 mark in the conference.
 
The win over Abilene Christian is great, but it doesn't mean anything if we lose on Saturday," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "When you're battling for a spot in the conference tournament, every win is important. You can't take anybody lightly."
 
If the eight-team tournament were to start today, LU would be the No. 6 seed. However, with seven games remaining, LU leads Southeastern Louisiana, which sits in last place by just two games, and New Orleans and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the other two teams currently on the outside looking in, by 1.5 games. Incarnate Word, which is in the process of transitioning to Division I from Division II, is ineligible for the tournament.
 
UIW is 3-1 in conference road games this season, but 0-5 at home. UIW posted a 63-61 win at Nicholls on Wednesday.
 
"They are playing better," Harmony said of UIW. "They know they can't go to the tournament, so knocking off some of the better teams in the conference would make their season."
 
LU leads the all-time series with UIW 3-0. Last season, LU swept the two-game season series, including an 81-64 victory at the Montagne Center on Feb. 28, as LU guard JaMeisha Edwards scored a career-high 35 points.
 Edwards is second on LU in scoring this season, averaging 13.6 points per game. Guard Addesha Collins, who had her first career double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Abilene Christian, leads LU in scoring with an average of 13.9 points per game. Freshman guard Chastadie Barrs, who had career highs of eight steals and 12 rebounds in the victory over ACU, is second in the nation in steals, averaging 3.95 per game.
 
Senior guard Aricka Adams leads UIW in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game. Junior guard Brianna Williams averages 13.0 points per game.
 
Saturday's game is part of a hoops doubleheader with the LU men's basketball team, which takes on UIW at 4:30 p.m. Saturday is Scout Day, with all scouts in uniform receiving free admission and the opportunity to earn a scouting badge. In addition, it is also Youth Day, with all youth basketball players receiving free admission when they wear their team jersey. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet the LU softball team.
 
For ticket information, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. Those fans unable to make the game, can watch it live on ESPN3 from their computer, smart phone, tablet or other device.