BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University returns to the Montagne Center on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they face the Sugar Bears of Central Arkansas. The Cards will be looking for its 36th straight win at home. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
 
THIS WEEK – CENTRAL ARKANSAS, Jan. 12th at 2 p.m.
Series Record: 10-8 (19th Meeting)
Last Meeting: Jan. 6, 2018 (51-37, Central Arkansas)
 
Central Arkansas comes into the contest against the Cardinals after dropping its last four games. Its last win came on Dec. 17 against Williams Baptist. In the Sugars Bears last game at Sam Houston State, they were defeated 66-62. The Sugar Bears trailed by 15 points and came back taking the lead in the fourth quarter but could not hold onto the lead and were defeated by Sam Houston State.
 
Kamry Orr leads the Sugar Bears in scoring this season as she is averaging 13.2 points per game. She is shooting 33 percent in the contest and is averaging the most minute per game (29.3) on the team. Mekaylan Hicks lead the team in rebounding as she is collecting 5.7 rebounds per game.
 
As a team, the Sugar Bears are scoring 58.7 points per game. They scored a season-high 91 points against Crowley's Ridge on Dec. 1. They are shooting 36.5 percent from the floor and 25.3 percent on threes this season. Opponents are scoring 56.2 points and are shooting 38.4 percent against the Sugar Bears. The 56.2 is the lowest points allowed in the Southland Conference.
 
The Sugar Bears were picked to finish third in the Southland Conference Preseason Poll.
 
LAST TIME OUT – NEW ORLEANS
Chastadie Barrs and Moe Kinard led Lamar University past the Privateers of the University of New Orleans, 79-57, on Wednesday evening. Barrs picked up her third triple-double (17 points, 12 steals, 10 rebounds) and Kinard scored 29 leading the Cards in the victory.
 
"Chastadie played solid for us tonight and picked up her third triple-double of the season and seventh triple-double of her career," remarked Head Coach Robin Harmony. "Chastadie is a great player and we need her playing well for us to play well."
 
With the win the Cardinals have won five games in a row and improve to 10-4, 3-0 SLC on the season. The Privateers fall to 4-8, 0-3 SLC on the season.
 
Barrs led the Cards in steals (12) and rebounds (10) but also led the Cardinals with nine assists. Kinard led the Cards with 29 points on 12-of-24 shooting. LU shot 44.1 percent from the floor in the contest and forced the Privateers into 28 turnovers. Lamar had 20 steals in the game, adding to its NCAA lead.
 
"Going on the road in any conference is difficult," remarked coach Harmony. "We did not execute as well as we would have liked but we came away with a hard-fought road victory and I hope we learned from this contest."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 16 when they host the Southeastern Louisiana University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
 
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 LU teams competing in the 2018-19 season.