BEAUMONT, Texas - In a rematch of a 2018 game that saw over 200 points of offense, double overtime, and a couple of broken records, Lamar University (3-5) will host the University of Denver (4-3) this Sunday.

Lamar vs. Denver - Sunday, December 8 at 2 p.m. - Montagne Center

This will be the fourth meeting all-time between Lamar and Denver with the Pioneers holding a 3-0 advantage. Lamar almost took the inaugural meeting in 2005, losing 45-42 to the Pioneers after missing the go-ahead shot with 15 seconds left. The high altitude played havoc for LU in its first trip to Denver in 2006, but LU again came within reach of defeating the Pioneers last season in a 117-112, double overtime loss in the Mile High City.  Moe Kinard scored 58 points and hit 13 three-pointers, both records for LU and the Southland Conference, in the loss.

Denver is 4-3 this season. The Pioneers narrowly lost at UMKC and at home against New Mexico State, then dominated Wyoming, Cal Poly, and Colorado Christian at home before splitting their games against UC Irvine and Alabama A&M this past weekend in the Pioneer Thanksgiving Classic.

Jim Turgeon is in his third season as head coach of the Pioneers and holds a 38-31 record in that time. For his 20 year career Turgeon is 407-203 with head coaching stops at Colorado State-Pueblo, Iowa Western Community College, and Dodge City Community College.

Denver has an extremely efficient offense, averaging 82.3 points a game on 40.9 percent shooting including a 34.2 percent mark from three. The Pioneer defense has limited opponents to 70.6 points a game, highlighting Turgeon's emphasis on scoring first and scoring often. The Pioneers famously set an NCAA record for three pointers in a game (36) under Turgeon in a 118-93 loss at Western Illinois on Jan. 24, 2018. Teams have shot 41.3 percent against the Denver defense, and the Pioneers are forcing just 17.1 turnovers a game, but at the same time Denver has allowed just 15.1 turnovers to their opponents per game while dealing out 16.1 assists a contest and out-rebounding its opposition by 10.6 boards a game. Denver is also a team that really loves to get to the free throw line - their 138 made free throws are the third-most in the NCAA this season.

Madison Nelson is second in the NCAA behind Jewel Smalls of Western Carolina, Joyner Holmes at Texas, and Unique Thompson from Auburn for the most double-doubles this season. She has six, trailing Smalls, Holmes, and Thompson by one. Nelson is averaging 20.1 points a game and 12.9 boards a game while shooting 48.5 from the floor and averaging 2.00 steals and 1.14 blocks a game. Lauren Loven has 22 made three-pointers this season and is averaging 13.0 points and 3.9 assists a game, and Uju Ezeudu (12.9 ppg) and Briana Johnson (10.3 ppg) are also scoring in double digits.

The Last Time Out - LeTourneau - Monday, December 2 - Lamar wins 90-38

After trailing by four to open the game, a shutdown defensive effort carried Lamar University women's basketball to a big win over LeTourneau University on Monday, 90-38. The Cardinals (3-5) outscored the Yellowjackets 88-32 in the final 35 minutes of the game while forcing 36 turnovers.
 
"We wanted to come out and play really hard, and I'm excited that [Jadyn Pimentel] has found her game again offensively," said head coach Aqua Franklin. "Collectively I thought we did an unbelievable job defensively, holding the Yellowjackets to 11 points in the second half. Hopefully that carries over the rest of this season."

Jadyn Pimentel had her second consecutive game of 20 points with 22 on a 9-of-19 performance from the field, pulling down three boards and snagging three steals as well while dealing out four assists. Shedricka Pierson set a new career best with 13 points on 50 percent shooting from three and six steals, and Amber Vidal also totaled 13 while stealing four passes. Briana Laidler fell one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, and Umaja Collins had eight points and five boards.

Up Next - Southland Conference Competition Begins

After hosting Denver this weekend, Lamar will be off for over a week and then open Southland Conference play Dec. 18 at Southeastern Louisiana (2-4). A home game against Northwestern State on Dec. 21 will wrap the 2019 portion of the schedule, and 2020 will open Jan. 2 with New Orleans at home.