WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Lamar University Cardinals threw a scare into the undefeated Purdue Boilermakers before dropping a 79-64 decision on the road Saturday afternoon.
 
The Cardinals (2-2) led 24-17 after one quarter, and were within seven points in the fourth quarter, but the Boilermakers (3-0) of the Big 10, who received votes in both national top-25 polls, held on for the win.
 
"I think we got better. You could see the improvement today," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "I'm proud of the kids and the way they played against a Big 10 team in this environment."
 
Chastadie Barrs had team-highs of 18 points, six assists and four steals for the Cardinals. Barrs, who entered the game leading the nation with 23 steals, now has at least one steal in all 65 games of her career. Moe Kinard added 16 points for LU.
 
"Chas and Moe really stepped up," Harmony said. "Chas has been consistent. She is our engine and she has to continue to be that. We also have to get some other people to join the party."
 
The Cardinals shot 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the field in the first quarter as they built their seven-point lead.  LU couldn't sustain that torrid shooting in the second quarter, going just 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) as the Boilermakers outscored LU 25-6 in the frame to take a 42-30 lead into the locker room.
 
LU cut the deficit to 58-49 after three periods and scored the first two points of the fourth quarter to make it 58-61, but could get no closer.
 
"The kids hung in there. We played great in the first and third quarter," Harmony said. "We broke down on defense. We just have to learn and continue to get better."
 
Kiandra Bowers, Kiara Desamours and Ashlan Miles had seven points apiece for LU, while Bowers had team highs of six rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
The Boilermakers had four players score in double figures, led by Ae'Rianna Harris, who had a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds to go along with seven blocked shots.
 
The Cardinals return home to host Howard Payne at 7 p.m. Tuesday before embarking on a three-game road swing. LU will play two games at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classic, facing North Dakota on Nov. 24 and Northern Illinois on Nov. 25 before heading to Stockton, California, to take on the Pacific Tigers on Nov. 30.
 
"We go again at home on Tuesday, then go on the road against some very good teams," Harmony said. "As long as we keep getting better at this, we're going to be going in the direction that we want to. That's definitely a bright spot."
 
Fans attending Tuesday's game will receive a free rally towel when they bring at least three canned-food items to the game as part of the Cardinals Canned Food Drive. Suggested items include canned meats, peanut butter, canned fruits or vegetables, pasta, cereal, rice and canned soups and stews. All donations will be given to the Food Bank of Southeast Texas.
 
TICKETS: For season tickets and individual-game tickets, please call 409-880-1715, or visit CLICK HERE. The Montagne Center ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. It reopens one hour prior to tipoff on weeknights and weekends. LU students receive free admission to home games with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members are admitted for free when they present their membership badge.
 
CARDINAL NOTES: With her three steals Saturday, Bowers moved into fifth place on LU's career steals list with 189. Barrs has 292 steals for her career, 41 behind Ramona Jones' school mark of 333. Bowers has 973 career points as she moved closer to becoming the 14^th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.