LAFAYETTE, La. – The Lamar University women's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a 79-77 overtime victory over the University of Louisiana on Tuesday night. The Cards had four players score in double-figures and were led by Chastadie Barrs with 23 points.
 
Angel Hastings picked the best time for her first collegiate bucket as she hit a layup and was fouled with eight seconds left in overtime. She made the free throw and the Cards took a two-point lead, 79-77. The Ragin' Cajuns had a shot to win but the shot rimmed out.
 
"Two freshmen (Angel and Miya) and Shedricka came up with big minutes for us tonight," remarked head coach Robin Harmony. "We got in foul trouble and you could tell it was our first game tonight. We missed some easy shots, but our kids hung in there and found a way to win. We don't think it was pretty but any win on the road against a great team and the Sun Belt is big for us. We can now take the mistakes we had and learn from them."  
 
The Cards had four players in double-figures, led by Barrs who scored 23 points, one point off her career-high. Barrs also added seven steals in the game. Moe Kinard followed with 13 points, Jadyn Pimentel scored 12, all in the second half, and Briana Laidler added 10 points in the win for the Cards.
 
The Cardinals Barrs extended her steals streak early in the first quarter when she picked the pocket of Skyler Goodwin. The steal for Barrs was her 92nd straight game with at least one steal. Following the steal, the Cards went on a 9-0 run taking an 11-4 lead over the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
Louisiana trimmed the lead down to two, 13-11, but the Cards answered by scoring the final seven points of the quarter. Ashlan Miles hit a three at the buzzer putting the Cardinals ahead 20-11 after one quarter of play.
 
Opening the second quarter, the Cards stretched its lead to 14, its largest lead in the first half, after a jumper by Barrs. However, the Ragin' Cajuns answered back and cut the Cardinals lead down to two, 25-23. During the run for Louisiana, Lamar was held scoreless for four minutes. Louisiana took the lead, 30-29, after a three pointer by Andrea Cournoyer. Following the three, Lamar scored the final five points of the half and took a 34-30 lead into halftime.
 
Opening the third quarter of action, the Cards stretched its lead to eight points after Shedricka Pierson hit a three pointer. LU continued to attack and added to the lead when Laidler hit a jumper in the paint and the Cardinals found themselves ahead by 12, 47-35.
 
Late in the third quarter, Louisiana slowly started coming back as a free throw by Ty'reona Douchet trimmed the Cardinals lead down to five, 51-46. The lead continued to shrink for LU as the Ragin' Cajun tied the game at 51 after three quarters of play.
 
The entire fourth quarter remained close and Pimentel hit a jumper that put the Cards ahead 60-56. Louisiana continued to fight and after a pair of free throws by Brandi Williams the Cards found themselves down, 65-64. Trailing by two with under 10 seconds remaining, Pimentel hit a jumper tying the game at 70 and forcing overtime.
 
In overtime, it was a back and forth affair. After Kinard hit a three, the Ragin' Cajun scored the next four points taking a one point lead, 74-73. Late in overtime, Douchet hit a layup that put Louisiana ahead, 77-76. Fifteen seconds later, Angel Hastings picked the best time for her first collegiate bucket as she hit a layup and was fouled. She made the free throw and the Cards took a two point lead, 79-77. The Ragin' Cajuns had a shot to win but the shot rimmed out and the Cardinals came away with a 79-77 victory.
 
The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, Nov. 10 when they host McMurry University. Tipoff for the contest is set for 7:30 p.m. It will be the Cards home opener. Prior to the contest, LU will receive its 2017-18 Southland Conference Regular Season Championship Rings.