BEAUMONT, Texas - Beaumont native Jacei Denley added to her legacy to the Golden Triangle as she would deliver the game-winning buzzer-beater to help the Lamar University women's basketball team over Loyola Marymount 61-58 in the first game back at the Neches Arena in over a month. As the year 2023 comes to a close, so too does non-conference play as the Cardinals will enter 2024 with a 6-4 overall record.
Finishing as the game's top scorer, Denley poured in 15 points on six field goals including three from downtown. She was also one of four Cardinals with two steals along with Sabria Dean and T'Aaliyah Miner, both of whom finished with 10 points in the contest. Akasha Davis (six rebounds) and R'Mani Taylor both recorded eight points.
LU did struggle most of the game from the field as they only connected on 36.5% including 25.0% from downtown. They also finished being outrebounded 37-27 to the Lions all-game long. But one major category the Cardinals capitalized in was outscoring LMU 25-6 in points off turnovers and also recording 18 second chance points.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, this game would be a tale of two halves. The Cardinals got off to a slow start falling behind 11-2 early in the first quarter. Three-balls by Denley and Malay McQueen along brought LU back to within five points at 13-8. But the Lions managed five of the final seven points of the quarter to lead 18-10.
Things would get more challenging for LU as the Lions started the second quarter with five unanswered to lead 23-10. The Cardinals called a timeout and responded with seven straight only for five more points by LMU to increase LU's deficit to a game-high 11 points. While both teams were plagued with shooting under 36% from the field, the Cardinals had a last second buzzer-beater wiped off due to the fact the shot was released after the buzzer sounded. LU trailed 34-24 after the first half.
Perhaps reminding themselves of the double-digit halftime deficit they faced against Louisiana to come back and win, the third quarter belonged to Big Red who outscored LMU 16-9 in the third quarter. It started with Davis and Dean combining for six points while Denley's jumper and a pair of Miner free throws propelled LU with trail 36-34 after a 10-2 run to start the half. The Lions were held to four-of-eight from the field and kept off the free throw line despite increasing their lead to 41-36. NJ Weems would pick up four points to bring LU within three at 43-40.
Miner helped LU seize their first lead of the game with four points at 48-46 to start the fourth. The rest of the quarter would be tight as neither team led by more than four points. Near the halfway mark, Denley connected on a three to give LU a 55-52 lead. In spite of an R'Mani Taylor free throw and a jumper by Dean, the Lions answered with a pair of three's to tie the score at 58 with 2:01 to go. Neither team would score on their first chance to lead and when LMU got the ball back with 18 seconds to go, they coughed it up by traveling with three seconds left.
This gave LU once last chance to secure the win. Taylor inbounded the ball near LU's bench and fed Denley, who fired from Steph Curry range. The ball sailed through the hoop with just three-tenths left to go in the game. LU then held off LMU's last desperate attempt to secure the win.
The Cardinals now set their sights on Southland Conference play on January 4th as they will host UIW at 7:00 p.m.
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