SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Despite getting 20 points from sophomore Angel Hastings, the Lamar University women's basketball program fell in overtime on Wednesday night at the University of Incarnate Word, 68-67. 

The Cardinals saw early success against the "Other" Cardinals, but UIW was able to escape the quarter with a 15-13 advantage. Freshman Malay McQueen got her fifth consecutive start on the night and led the Cards in
the first quarter with five points and two rebounds. For UIW, reigning SLC Player of the Week Imani Robinson got out to a hot start in the first period, finishing the period with five points on 2-for-3 shooting from the field.

Lamar got out to a hot start in the second period with sophomore Angel Hastings helping the Big Red on a 6-0 run in the first three minutes of the quarter before Robinson was fouled by McQueen and sank both free throws to end the drought. Kara Speer for the "Other" Cards finished the first half with eight points and three rebounds.

Cardinals held UIW to just 34.6 percent shooting, below their season average, in the first half. Lamar shot 37.5 percent in the first back behind Hastings and junior Jadyn Pimentel. Pimentel also added two steals and one rebound in her first half performance.

The third frame was a back and forth battle. Through the media timeout at 3:58 in the third, both teams were locked up at 13 apiece, but UIW held the overall lead 39-38. The "Other" Cardinals hit some big threes that helped them tick at the Lamar lead courteous of Kara Speer.

The fourth came down to a run and gun battle with both teams tied at seven apiece at the media break in the frame. Pimentel and Hastings came up huge in scoring. UIW would hit a three to go up 53-51 with 1:50 left on the clock. Hastings took the inbounds ball and put it up for three and drained it to help the Cards take a 54-53 lead with less than a minute left, but it was not enough as both programs were locked up at 55 apiece at the end of the fourth.

Overtime was a thriller. Both teams exchanged buckets until an intentional foul by UIW's Imani Robinson put Hastings at the line to shoot two and she drained both. Defense was highly important on the next UIW offensive possession and the Cards stood their ground. Redshirt senior Amber Vidal hit a crucial jumper to extend the Lamar lead to 67-64. The "Other" Cardinals took a 68-67 lead with 12 seconds left on a Kara Speer layup. Lamar put up the final shot, but it hit rim as Incarnate Word took the overtime win, 68-67.

Pimentel paced the Cards with 19 points on 9-for-14 shooting, while adding on two steals and two rebounds to her performance. Junior Rikiah Cowart had a huge performance. Cowart finished the night with 10 points and five rebounds.

FROM HEAD COACH AQUA FRANKLIN:

On what was going well for the team throughout the game:

" We were able to score in the paint early and that allowed us to set our defense. Jadyn Pimentel got us going offensively in the third, and Malay was huge for us on the defensive end."

On Rikiah Cowart helping down low and finishing with double digits:

"Rikiah did a great job being a paint protector. Before the game we talked about her being a presence in the paint both offensively and defensively. When she caught the ball on the inside, she was patient and finished through contact."

Up Next: The Cardinals will travel to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, February 29 to take on the Ladyjacks with tipoff scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. (CT) start. The Cardinals are looking to make one final push towards the Southland Conference Tournament.