BEAUMONT, Texas - 324 days after suffering a heartbreaking loss in last year's Southland Conference championship game, the Lamar University women's basketball team will have their first opportunity at making a statement to the undefeated defending conference champion Southeastern Louisiana Lions for SLC supremacy. Separated by one game in the standings, the Cardinals will tip-off at 3:00 p.m, with first place up for grabs.

NEEDING REVENGE ON NEW ORLEANS
The Cardinals survived a tight 65-62 thriller against the University of New Orleans putting an end to three straight losses against the Privateers. Despite the fact that LU was outshot all-game long (45.8-35.1), they benefited from 24-of-28 free throws in the game.

I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU TO PLAY DAVIS AND DEAN
Once again, LU's two leading scorers in Sabria Dean and Akasha Davis led the way for the Cardinals combining for 39 points. Dean led everyone with 20 points including a perfect eight-of-eight from the field. Davis added 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for her ninth double-double on the season and fifth in a row.

BROOKLYN DIDN'T DODGE THE CHALLENGE
Brooklyn Mitchell set a new career-high with nine points, which included four free throws. Despite a tough day shooting wise, it was Mitchell who sparked LU's comeback from five down with 3:38 to go with a jumper.

WE HATE TO GO BACK TO THE PAST, BUT…
The Cardinals are meeting the Lions for the first time since the 66-57 loss in the SLC Championship game. LU did beat SLU twice during the regular season last year. But in the title game, the Cardinals led 40-29 with 8:39 to go in the third only to be outscored 37-17 from that point on. Davis tallied 16 points on seven-of-eight from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds. That loss ended LU's season at 20-12.

HISTORY VS. THE LIONS
All-time, LU holds a 25-22 edge on SLU. Prior to the championship game, LU had won eight of their last nine meetings with the Lions including six in a row. The last time the two teams played in Beaumont, the Cardinals won 66-54 behind 22 points from Davis and 13 from Dean.

MEET THE LIONS
The Lions enter Saturday's matchup having won every game since conference play started. At 11-7 overall and 7-0 in conference play, SLU is coming off a thrilling 53-51 win over Houston Christian. The winning points were made on free throws by Allasia Washington, who finished with nine while both Hailey Giaratano and Cheyanne Daniels both led with 14 apiece.

IF ONLY DETROIT'S DEFENSE WERE AS GOOD AS SLU'S
The SLU Lions possess the best defense in the SLC giving up 54.9 ppg. In seven of their last eight games, the Lions have conceded fewer than 60 points. The lone exception was 63 allowed against McNeese, but that was because the last five came in overtime.

UP NEXT FOR LU
It will be a week before LU returns to action, but the stretch becomes more difficult as they travel south to meet the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 

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