BEAUMONT, Texas – Trailing at halftime, Lamar University used a strong second half, where they shot 57 percent from the floor to erase a five-point deficit and defeat University of the Pacific, 82-66. The win extended the Cards home winning streak to 33 games.
 
With the win, LU improves to 7-4 on the season, while Pacific falls to 6-3.
 
Chastadie Barrs and Jadyn Pimentel led the Cards with 23 points. The 23 points for Pimentel is a career-high. Barrs led LU in rebounds with 10 and steals with 10 for her second straight game with a triple-double. Barrs now has six triple-doubles in her career.
 
Lamar forced Pacific into 32 turnovers in the contest and recorded 25 steals. The 25 steals in a game is tied for tenth most in a single game in LU history.
 
"Everyone committed to play full court and quarter court defense tonight as we were playing a good team," remarked Head Coach Robin Harmony. "In the second half, we changed our press and gave them a different look and we were able to get some steals from it. We then locked up on the defensive end and limited Pacific's opportunities to score after giving them second and third chances early."
 
Lamar came out forcing the Tigers into turnovers. In the first 10 minutes of the contest, LU forced Pacific, who was averaging 12.9 turnovers per game, into nine turnovers. The Red and White struggled shooting the ball early in the contest and found themselves down six, 12-6, after an Ameela Li layup. The Cards continued to battle but trailed 21-12 after one quarter of play.
 
Pacific grew its lead to 13 points, 33-20, over the first four minutes of the second quarter. After being fouled on a layup, Barrs hit two free throws that sparked a 7-0 run for LU and the lead was down to six, 33-27 after a Pimentel three. Lamar had the lead down to four points in the second quarter before going into halftime trailing 38-33.
 
Coming out of halftime, the Cards offense caught fire early and over the first three minutes of the second half, LU tied the game at 42-42 after a fast break layup by Barrs. With the game tied at 44, Barrs hit a layup with 5:57 left in the third quarter, giving the Cards its first lead of the contest.
 
Once LU took the lead they never gave it up. After a pair of free throws by Barrs, LU led by five, 49-44. The Cards grew the lead to as many as seven points, 55-48, in the third quarter after Barrs recorded another fast break layup. LU held a four-point lead, 61-57, lead after three quarters of play.
 
The final 10 minutes of the contest belonged to the Cardinals as they only allowed Pacific to score nine points in the quarter. With LU leading by two, 64-62, Lamar used a two-minute span to grow its lead to eight points, 70-62. All six points of the run were scored by Barrs and Pimentel.
 
After the run, the Tigers Valerie Higgins scored the next four points and LU saw its lead cut in half, 70-66. However, the Cards did not allow Pacific to score for the final 3:55 of the contest as they closed the game on a 12-0 run. LU defeated Pacific 82-66 for its 33rd straight win at the Montagne Center.
 
The Cards return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 2 when they host Houston Baptist, in both teams Southland Conference opener. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.