HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Feasting on baskets against the Delta Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State University, Lamar University's women's basketball team earned gave each other thanks for an 85-49 victory on the first day of Southern Mississippi's Lady Eagle Classic. LU has won the last three straight games to be at 3-1 to start the season, which marks the best start in the Aqua Franklin era.

In all four quarters, the Cardinals were red-hot shooting 50% or higher from the field. In total, they finished going 33-of-57 for a 57.9% field goal percentage. Earning her first start of the season, Emma Imevbore would put up a team-high 17 points on just eight-of-11 from the field while grabbing 11 rebounds for a double-double. Portia Adams, who finished with a game-high eight assists, also landed in double-figures scoring 15 points while NJ Weems tallied 13 points.

Each team traded six points in the first four minutes before LU stretched their lead to 11-6 following a made Weems three-pointer. The Delta Devilettes answered with five points in a row to be up 12-11. A lay-up by Bebe Galloway started a 7-2 run that ended with LU up 18-14 after one. The Cardinals made 50.0% from the field in the quarter.

Sabria Dean's four points along with an Imevbore basket ignited a 6-3 run to open the second quarter. MVSU cut the deficit to 24-21 only for Adams to knock down a three to double the lead. Weems would then pick up four points as the Cardinals took a 31-26 lead at the break. That quarter saw LU make 54.5% from the field.

The third quarter would prove to be the turning point as LU outscored MVSU 29-14 to up their lead to 60-40. Still up by five after each scored their first basket, Big Red ran up 11 straight points to go ahead 44-28. Imevbore would tally nine points while Adams, Weems, and Akasha Davis each scored six points in the quarter. The Cardinals would have their highest shooting percentage at 66.7% missing just five of their 15 total shots.

Galloway's basket with 4:51 to go in the fourth quarter cracked the 30-point margin at 72-42 for the Cardinals. Big Red never stopped scoring as they would end up with 25 points in the quarter while holding the Delta Devilettes to just nine points on only three made field goals. Other Cardinals, including Anaya Bernard, Alyiah Craft, and R'Mani Taylor would come in and get on the scoreboard. By the time the final buzzer sounded, LU's fourth quarter shooting percentage of 58.8% was enough for a final of 85-49.

"Great team win tonight," said head coach Aqua Franklin. "We did a great job of sharing the ball and shot it well from the three-point line. The third quarter was huge for us. We had well balanced scoring with contributions from our bench."

The Cardinals will look to sweep the Lady Eagle Classic tomorrow as they will battle with the hosts of USM. Once again, it's a 5:00 p.m, tip-off.
 

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