BEAUMONT, Texas - Midway through the third quarter, Lamar University found themselves down 45-36 and facing the prospect of dropping their sixth straight game. All of a sudden, the Cardinals got even redder as they outscored the Abilene Christian University Wildcats 34-15 in the final 14 minutes of game play.
The Cardinals had four players score in double-figures.
Sabria Dean achieved her fourth 20+ point performance of the year when she scored 21 points, including 14 in the second half.
Angel Hastings finished with 13 points while
Akasha Davis (seven rebounds) and
Anyssia Gibbs (nine rebounds) both tallied 11 points each. LU finished the game with 46.9% from the field.
After each side recorded a pair of free throws and a field goal for a 4-4 tie, the Wildcats would go on an 8-3 run to be up 12-7. In spite of this, Gibbs would put up four early points while Hastings knocked down a three-pointer to cut the margin to 12-10 after one. While both teams knocked down three field goals each, LU made 25% from the field while holding ACU to 18.8%.
Both teams tallied 16 points in the second quarter as LU shot 46.0% from the field. Gibbs contributed early with five points to get the Cards within 17-15. But four of the next six points belonged to the Wildcats. LU responded with seven unanswered points to grab the 22-21 lead. Dean would score seven points in the quarter as the Cardinals managed to trim the deficit to two points (28-26) again at the break.
ACU broke out to an 8-3 run to open the second half to go up 36-29. LU did trim the margin to 38-36 only to allow a run of seven straight points by the Wildcats to increase the deficit to nine. Trailing 45-36, the Cardinals responded with an 8-3 finish to put themselves down 48-44 heading into the final quarter.
What followed was a dominant fourth quarter that saw LU outscore the Wildcats 26-12 while shooting a remarkable 80% from the field. Seven unanswered points by LU help them retake the lead at 51-48 to open the fourth quarter. Following a two-point bucket by the Wildcats, Davis and Dean combined for the next nine points that gave LU their largest lead of the game at that point, 60-52. ACU only brought the score to within six points. But Dean's 21st point on a three-pointer was the dagger that propelled LU to a 70-60 win.
With only two games left in the season, the Cardinals will look to stay on the winning side with a Thursday night game against UTRGV at 7:00 PM.
