BEAUMONT, Texas – The top two teams in the Southland Conference square off in a Mid-Major Top 25 clash on Saturday afternoon at the Montagne Center. Lamar University and Stephen F. Austin tip off at 2 p.m.
 
In the latest Women's Mid-Major Top 25 poll, that was released Tuesday, the Cards entered the rankings for the first time all season at No. 21. SFA enters this week as the No. 24 ranked team in the poll.
 
Lamar will be looking for its 41st straight win at the Montagne Center on Saturday. The LU home court win streak started on Nov. 11, 2016. LU has not lost at home in three seasons.
 
Saturday's contest against SFA is presented by Mobil Oil Credit Union. Mobil Oil Credit Union will be handing out LU socks while supplies last. Following the game, the 2019 junior class will hold an autograph session for the fans. It is Greek Week on the LU campus and Lamar will be holding a student organization challenge in the Montagne Center where student organizations can earn cash for attending the game. Free Raising Canes will also be handed out to students in the student section.
 
The Cardinals last game of the regular season will be held on Saturday, March 9 when LU hosts McNeese in the Battle of the Border at the Montagne Center. LU will celebrate its seniors prior to the contest and all tickets for the game against McNeese are one dollar.
 
THIS WEEK – STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, March 2 at 2 p.m. (Montagne Center)
Series Record: 16-56 (73rd Meeting)
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2019 (70-58, Stephen F. Austin)

Stephen F. Austin enters the contest with the Cards coming off a 79-43 victory over Central Arkansas on Feb. 27. The win for the Ladyjacks was its second in a row. SFA had its 13-game winning streak snapped by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 20. Against the Sugar Bears, SFA shot 55.3 percent from the field and hit 10 three-pointers. The Sugar Bears forced Stephen F. Austin into 16 turnovers in the contest. SFA was led in scoring by Stephanie Visscher. Visscher played 30 minutes and was one of three Ladyjack in double-figures with 19 points. She was 4-for-6 on three pointers in the game.
 
Stephen F. Austin is led in scoring by Chanell Hayes, who is averaging 14.2 points per game. Imani Johnson follows averaging 12.8 points per game. Besides scoring, Johnson leads the Ladyjacks in rebounding averaging 5.7 rebounds per game. SFA has four players with 25 or more three-pointers on the season. Hayes leads the way with 49. Marissa Banfield is second on the team with 37, Heaven Hamling has 34 for the Ladyjacks, which is third most and Johnson has made 29 three-pointers this season. 
 
As a team, SFA is averaging 72.1 points per game and are shooting 45.9 percent from the floor. The Ladyjacks scored a season-high 97 points against Wiley on Dec. 1, New Orleans on Jan. 16 and McNeese on Feb. 14. Opponents are averaging 56.2 points per game and shooting 34.7 percent from the floor on the season. The most anyone has scored against the Ladyjacks this season is 81 points.
 
The Cards and Ladyjacks met earlier this season in Nacogdoches. The Ladyjacks came away with a 70-58 victory over the Cardinals. The loss was the first loss for the Cardinals in SLC action. SFA shot 46.7 percent from the field and led the Cards to shoot 33.3 percent. Chanell Hayes scored a season-high 30 points against the Cards.

LAST TIME OUT – HOUSTON BAPTIST
With 3:35 left in the second quarter, Chastadie Barrs set the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball history when she recorded her 625-career steal breaking the NCAA record. Lamar University came away with a 97-49 victory over Houston Baptist.
 
Barrs, who broke Natalie White's 25-year steal record of 624, ended the game with 10 steals. She has 627 steals for her career at Lamar.
 
"We had to make sure we were ready to play tonight because anyone can beat anyone on any given day," remarked head coach Robin Harmony. We played good team ball tonight and came away with a great victory. This record (NCAA Career Steals) will not be broken for a long time. It is so much harder to get steals now. This is a great honor for Chastadie. She is not just a great defender; she rebounds, scores and gets assists. She is a special player."
 
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 22-5 on the season and 15-1 in SLC play. The 22 wins tie the most wins for LU under head coach Robin Harmony. LU shot 50 percent from the floor in the win.
 
Moe Kinard led the Cards with 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting. Houston native, Miya Crump added 19 points. Barrs and Briana Laidler added 15 points and 11 points to round out the double-figure scorers. Barrs continued to fill the stat sheet as she led LU with 10 steals and nine assists.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, March 9 when they host McNeese for Senior Day. This is the last regular season contest for the Cards. Tip off for the Cards and Cowgirls is set for 2 p.m. from the Montagne Center.
 
HOME 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 tip off on weeknights and weekends. LU students receive free admission to home games with their Cardinal One card.
 
SLC TOURNAMENT TICKETS
Ticket booklets and single-session tickets to the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas, are now on sale at the Montagne Center ticket office. The women's tournament runs from March 14-17.  The Montagne Center Ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Ticket sells can be bought until Tuesday, March 12th at the Montagne Center. Tickets can also be purchased at the Merrell Center during the tournament by going through the LU ticket booth.
 
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.