BEAUMONT, Texas - Ignited by a 17-point first half from Portia Adams, Lamar University returned to the win column after two straight losses with a 76-63 victory over #10 ranked NAIA powerhouse Loyola-New Orleans on Tuesday night at the Montagne Center. LU is back above .500 with a 4-3 record following the victory.

Adams proved to be the spark LU needed on this night as she led all scorers with 24 points while making 50% of her 18 field goal attempts including four three's. Sabria Dean collected 17 points and tallied a team-high seven assists while R'Mani Taylor poured in 13 points in her first start as a Cardinal. Akasha Davis came within one point and two rebounds of a double-double.

In total, LU finished making 44.8% from the field, 50.0% from three-point land, and missed all but two of their 18 free throws for 88.9%. Despite finishing level with LNO in points in the paint (24) and trailing 22-20 in points off turnovers, the Cardinals' fast break attack provided a 19-8 win for Big Red in that department.

Taylor opened the contest with the first five points. However, the Wolf Pack would respond with a 13-point surge to grab a 13-5 lead at the midway point of the first quarter. The Cardinals quickly rallied, and it was Adams, wearing #11, who would spark an 11-point quarter for herself, which included the next seven points in a minute. LNO added to their lead at 18-12, but with baskets by Adams and free throws by Alyiah Craft, the Cardinals caught the Wolf Pack at 18 apiece to end the first.

Adams continued her hot start as she buried the first two three's of the second quarter while Taylor pitched in five more to spark a 11-2 run for a 29-20 lead. LNO trimmed the lead to within five points with two minutes to go in the half before Davis was able to put up three points making Big Red seize a 34-26 lead at the break. As it turned out, the Cardinals conceding eight points in the second quarter would be the difference of the game.

Both teams would shoot over 50% in the third quarter as the Cardinals raced out to a 13 point lead at 46-33 follow a pair of Emma Imevbore baskets. The Wolf Pack could only manage to get the score to within eight points, but Davis provided another boost to Big Red with a pair of baskets. LU's lead grew to 16 (58-42) before a LNO basket meant the Cardinals had a 14-point lead entering the final quarter.

LU tried to maintain their double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter, but saw it go down to single digits with 1:10 to go. The Cardinals would then turn to Dean as she managed to draw fouls and score eight of her 10 fourth quarter from the free-throw line. Despite making two field goals, Big Red would make sure LNO wouldn't get closer as they would go on to the 76-63 victory.

Thursday night will see LU go up against their toughest challenge to date as they take on the undefeated #21 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.
 

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