BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's basketball program will make the 60-mile trek to Lake Charles, La. to take on McNeese on Saturday, February 1 in the first edition of the 2020 Battle of the Border. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:02 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

The Cardinals (8-11, 4-6 Southland) are on a four-game skid after dropping a nail biter to Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 25. The Cardinals were led by redshirt senior Amber Vidal with 23 points on 10-for-19 shooting. Senior Briana Laidler nearly finished with a double-double after tallying nine points and 12 rebounds.  

McNeese (5-14, 2-8 Southland)will come into the contest following a 79-63 loss at Nicholls on Wednesday. The Cowgirls are led by senior Regan Bolton, who averages 11.3 points per game while shooting 70 percent from the free throw line. Senior Damilola Balogun averages nearly a double-double for McNeese with 11.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game.

This will mark the 78^th meeting between the programs on the hardwood as the Cowgirls have the series advantage, 43-34, but the Cardinals have taken the previous six contests with the last Cardinal loss came in the 2015-16 season.

RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME

• Redshirt senior Amber Vidal finished the afternoon with 23 points, but it was not enough as Stephen F. Austin sank a last second free throw to take the win, 54-53, over the Cardinals on Saturday in the Montagne Center.
• Vidal finished the afternoon shooting 10-for-19 from the field, and tacked on three rebounds, an assist and a steal in her performance. The Cardinals rattled off 22 points in the first quarter, compared to just 11 for the Ladyjacks. Senior Briana Laidler picked up seven points and six rebounds in the first half to put Lamar up, 31-27, heading into the break.
• Laidler finished the contest with 12 rebounds and nine points, just one point short of a double-double. She picked up three blocks and three steals to add to her performance. Sophomore Angel Hastings added nine points and four rebounds.

 
LAST TIME WE MET

• For the second straight season, the Lamar University women's basketball team won the Southland Conference regular season championship. The Cards defeated McNeese, 81-68, on senior day to win the championship as Chastadie Barrs, Moe Kinard and DeJa Roberts closed out their tenure at the Montagne Center.
• This is the first time in program history the Cardinals have won back-to-back Championships
• With the win, Lamar improves to 24-5 on the season and 17-1 in SCL action and clinched the top seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament. McNeese falls to 7-22 and 5-13 in SLC play. This is the second straight season Lamar has finished 17-1 in Southland Conference action.