BEAUMONT, Texas – After opening the season on the road, the Lamar University women's basketball team returns to the Montagne Center for games on Saturday and Monday. The Cards host McMurry University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and host Louisiana College on Monday at 7 p.m.
 
Prior to the contest on Saturday night, LU will receive its 2017-18 Southland Conference Regular Season Championship rings.
 
LAST TIME OUT – Louisiana
For the first time in 61 contests, the Cardinals played an overtime game. On Tuesday night against the University of Louisiana, Jadyn Pimentel hit a shot late in the fourth quarter forcing overtime.  In overtime, Angel Hastings picked the best time for her first collegiate bucket as she hit a layup and was fouled with eight seconds left. 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. The Cards came away with a 79-77 victory.
 
In the contest, senior Chastadie Barrs recorded seven steals, making it 92 straight contests with a steal. The Cards had four players in double-figures, led by Barrs who scored 23 points, one point off her career-high. 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.
 
"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."  
 
THIS WEEK
McMurry vs. Lamar – Saturday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.
The War Hawks of McMurry University enter the contest against the Cardinals with a 0-1 record. McMurry was defeated by East Texas Baptist University, 86-52, in its season opener on Thursday night. McMurry was picked to finish third in the American Southwest Conference West Division.
 
The War Hawks Isabel Carrion, Skyler Reyna, and Sarah Doherty, all of whom are juniors, were named to the ASC Players to Watch list for the season.
 
One game into the season, McMurry is shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from behind the arc. Their opponents are shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. Leading the War Hawks in scoring is Savannah Johnson, who scored 11 points against ETBU. Skyler Reyna led the team with seven rebounds.
 
The War Hawks return four starters, and nine letter winners overall, from their 2017-18 roster. McMurry returns 83 percent of its points (55.3 of 66.5 points per game), 67 percent of its rebounds (26.6 of 39.9 rebounds per game) and 71 percent of its steals (165 of 231). McMurry's only lost starter from last year was a big one in All-ASC guard Sham Hunter, who averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.8 assists per game.
 
Louisiana College vs. Lamar – Monday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.
The Wildcats are coming off a 2017-18 season where they were 14-11 overall and 10-8 in the American Southwest Conference. This season, Louisiana College has a new head coach as Matt LeBato enters his first year at the helm. Monday's contest will be the first time the Wildcats take the floor during the 2018-19 season.
 
Kourtney McGhee, who received another year of eligibility from the NCAA, returns and will be joined by RyDeja McQuarn and Janae Smith as the core of this year's team.
 
McGhee had her best season as a Wildcat last year averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. She and Brooke Jones were the only players to score more than 300 points for LC last season, each finishing in the top-10 in the ASC in scoring by year's end.
 
Joining the seasoned guards, which LeBato says is one of the major strengths of the team, and likely to see plenty of playing time are LSU-Eunice transfers Tachiana Ledet and Jaleya Gold. The Alexandria native, Gold, will take her place under that basket as a 6-2 center for the Wildcats.
 
The Wildcats had three players, RyDeja McQuarn, Janae Smith and Jayla Landrum named to the American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch List.
 
UP NEXT
Following the two games at the Montagne Center, the Cardinals hit the road to face Mississippi State on Thursday, Nov. 15. Tipoff is set for 7 p.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.