BEAUMONT, Texas - This week will be about opportunities for the Lamar University women's basketball team to avenge some heartbreaking losses from last season. It all starts this Thursday night at LU will look to reverse the scores of two losses to New Orleans. The tip-off starts at 7:00 p.m.

A LITTLE HAKEEM OLAJUWON IN HER
Akasha Davis stacked up a career-high 29 points in LU's 65-54 win against Houston Christian. Shooting 13-of-20 from the field, she posted 16 points in the third quarter making all but one of her seven field goal attempts. By averaging 25 points and 16.5 rebounds per game, Davis was tabbed as the Southland Conference Player of the Week.

13 GOING ON 4?
NJ Weems matched her career-high of 13 points for only the fourth time in her career. She went five-of-10 from the field against HCU and posted six points in the first quarter. Her previous 13-point outings included Howard Payne (11/12/21), Mississippi Valley (11/25/22), and Texas A&M-Commerce (1/26/23). 

KEEP THEM AT 10 OR LESS
Holding HCU to just eight points in the second quarter, the Cardinals have now held opponents to under 10 points in 11 quarters this season. The lowest tally for LU was two against UTEP. LU is 9-1 when holding an opponent to under 10 in a quarter. The one loss happened at Texas Tech despite holding the Red Raiders to eight in the fourth quarter.

HISTORY VS THE PRIVATEERS
All-time, the Cardinals are 23-19 against the Privateers. But UNO has won the last three straight meetings, including two last season against LU. Last time the teams met here, the Privateers used a clutch basket to get themselves a 62-61 win.  

MEET THE PRIVATEERS
UNO enters Thursday's contest 6-11 and 3-3 overall. The Privateers recently fell 72-43 to Northwestern State, which has dropped their scoring average to 57.5 ppg. That is second to last in the conference only ahead of HCU.  One thing the Privateers have going for them is their ability to make free throws. They currently rank second in the conference with 73.2% made from the free throw line.

PRYOR KNOWLEDGE
Despite being held to under double figures in the last two games, DeArica Pryor remains UNO's top scorer averaging 11.8 per game. Last season, she averaged 18 ppg against LU including a 25-point outburst in the 62-61 win on the road. Two weeks ago, she was the SLC Player of the Week after averaging 17 ppg. 

UP NEXT FOR LU
The Cardinals return to Neches Arena for a rematch of last season's Southland Conference championship on Saturday with Southeastern Louisiana. The tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
 

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