BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals look to successfully defend their nest for the 18^th straight time when they host the Howard Payne Lady Jackets in a non-conference women's basketball game at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Montagne Center.
 
The Cardinals (2-2) are 2-0 at home this season and have a 17-game winning streak in the Montagne Center dating back to the start of last season. This fall, the Cardinals have outscored their foes at the Montagne Center by an average of 37 points per game.
 
Howard Payne, which is at Texas Lutheran on Monday before facing LU on Tuesday, opened the season with an 83-54 loss at Texas-Tyler before dropping a 105-35 decision at Stephen F. Austin in a game the Lady Jackets consider as an exhibition.
 
"We have to be ready to play our brand of basketball and not play down to the competition," LU coach Robin Harmony said. "We want to keep that home streak alive."
 
LU junior guard Chastadie Barrs leads the nation in steals, averaging 6.75 per game. The two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and last season's national leader in steals, has at least one steal in all 65 games of her career. Barrs leads the Cardinals in scoring (18.0), rebounding (6.5), assists (28) and steals (27).
 
"Chas has been putting in the extra work and it's paying off," Harmony said. "She is the engine that makes our team go."
 
The Cardinals saw their brief two-game winning streak come to an end with a 79-64 loss to Purdue of the Big 10 on Saturday, but Harmony saw several positives in the loss to a team that received votes in both national top-25 polls.
 
"I think we got better in that game. It was a confidence booster," Harmony said. "We're starting to play like the team we have been bragging about."
 
The Cardinals got a boost from the return of Moe Kinard, who missed the first two games of the season due to injury. Kinard, last season's Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, is averaging 11.5 points per game since her return.
 
Following Tuesday's game, the Cardinals embark on a three-game road trip. LU will face North Dakota and Northern Illinois at the UTSA Thanksgiving Classing, set for Nov. 24-25 in San Antonio, before traveling to Stockton California, for a game at Pacific on Nov. 30.
 
"We knew that the month of November would be a full-speed drill," Harmony said. "We are going to face some tough teams on this road trip as we look to continue to keep improving."
 
MILESTONE WATCH: LU post player Kiandra Bowers needs 27 points to become the 14^th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Bowers, who is 10^th on LU's all-time rebounding list with 664, looks to become the ninth player in program history with at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
 
PROMOTIONS: Fans who donate at least three items to the Cardinals Canned-Food Drive at Tuesday's game will receive a free Cardinal Nation Rally Towel. All donated items will be given to the Food Bank of Southeast Texas. Suggested items include canned meats, peanut butter, canned fruits or vegetables, pasta, cereal, rice and canned soups and stews. The Cardinalette Twirl Team will perform at halftime.
 
TICKETS: For season tickets and individual-game tickets, please call 409-880-1715, or 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.