BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's basketball team hits the road for two games this Friday and Saturday in Denver, Colo., where they will participate in the Denver Holiday Classic hosted by Denver University.
 
The Cards will play host school Denver on Friday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. and close out the classic by playing Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. Both start times are mountain time.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT – LeTOURNEAU
For the second time this season, the Lamar University women's basketball team held an opponent under 40 points. LU routed LeTourneau University, 104-27, on Tuesday evening at the Montagne Center.
 
The win for the Cardinals is its 31st straight victory at home. LU shot 55.4 percent in the contest as they had five players score in double-figures. Lola Bracy led the Cards with 22 points. Chastadie Barrs followed with 15 points. Barrs also recorded three steals in the game moving her into fourth place on the All-Time NCAA Steals list. The Cards had 11 players score in the contest.
 
"We came out strong and forced LeTourneau into turnovers early and scored easy baskets. After the first half, we came up an idea that we had to talk on defense and box out as we feel we are not doing those little things and this is preparing us for the future," Head Coach Robin Harmony stated. "Every time they did not talk or box out we would have a sprint."
 
THIS WEEK – DENVER, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. (3 p.m MT)
Series Record: 0-2 (3rd Meeting)
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2006 (Denver, 97-43)
 
Denver enters the Denver Holiday Classic with a 3-1 record on the season. They enter the contest coming off an 83-54 victory against American University on Monday afternoon. The Pioneers shot 49.3 percent in the contest and hit 10 three pointers. Lauren Loven led the team with 27 points.
 
The Pioneers are averaging 83.3 points per game this season and are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor. They are 38-for-83 (45.8%) on three pointers. In three of its four this season, the Pioneers have made ten or more three pointers. They have scored 80 or more points in each of the three wins this season, including scoring 92 points in its first and second games of the season.
 
Denver is forcing 16.8 turnovers per game while committing 15.3. They are being outrebounded by 2.2 rebounds per game.
 
The Pioneers have three players averaging double figure points, led by Loven who is averaging 20.5 points per game. Claire Gritt leads the team with 11 steals. Sydney Mech has recorded eight blocks this season.
 
DU was picked to finish fifth in The Summit League Preseason Poll. Claire Gritt was named to the Preseason All-Summit League Second Team.
 
OHIO, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. MT)
Series Record: 0-0 (1st Meeting)
Last Meeting: N/A
 
Ohio enters the Denver Thanksgiving Classic with a record of 3-0 on the season and are coming off a 100-60 victory over Eastern Kentucky University. In the win over Eastern Kentucky, the Bobcats shot 55 percent from the floor and had four players score in double figures. Cece Hooks led the Bobcats with 21 points and Erica Johnson followed with 19 points.
 
Over the first three games of the season, the Bobcats are averaging 93.7 points per game and have four players scoring in double figures. Leading the charge is Hooks, who is averaging 19.0 points per game. Amani Burkes (17.3), Johnson (16.3) and Gabby Burris (12.0) round out the double figure scorers.
 
On the season, Ohio is shooting 52.7 percent from the floor and 39.5 percent on threes. They are averaging 10 made three-pointers per game. Over each of the first three games, the Bobcats have made 10 threes.
 
The Bobcats were picked to finish third in the MAC East Division this season. They received three first place votes and 57 points. Cece Hooks was named to the Preseason All-MAC East Division Team.
 
UP NEXT
Lamar stays on the road and travels to College Station, Texas to face Texas A&M on Thursday, Nov. 29th. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m.
 
TICKETS
For tickets for LU home games, 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.
 
Fans can stay tuned to LamarCardinals.com or @LamarAthletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all season long for updates on women's basketball and all other Big Red teams competing in the 2018-19 season.