NEW ORLEANS, La. - Lamar University couldn't contain the red-hot shooting of No. 17 (CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top 25 poll) Cleveland State, on the second and final day of the Big Easy Classic at the Alario Center. The Cardinals fell 79-52 Saturday afternoon, which makes them 2-3 on the season.
 
LU shot 36.8 percent from the field. Senior Akasha Davis was the lone Cardinal in double-figures as she put up 15 points while grabbing five rebounds. Kamryn Wilson ended the day with eight points while NJ Weems added seven. R'Mani Taylor dished out four assists to lead the Cardinals while T'Aaliyah Miner secured a team-high six rebounds.
 
There was a common pattern throughout the first three quarters as LU started each quarter with momentum only to have CSU put together big runs late never allowing the Cardinals back into the game. Big Red had an early 7-4 lead, which included a three-point play from Weems. The Vikings then grabbed control with a 15-2 surge to end the first quarter up 19-9. In the second quarter, LU trailed 23-10 before coming back to get within six, 27-21. This was as close as the Cardinals got while the Vikings completed the first half on an 11-4 run to lead 37-23 at the break.
 
The game got from LU in the third quarter as the Vikings went on a 28-15 surge. The Cardinals chipped the deficit to 12, but the Vikings closed the quarter with another run behind 72.8 percent shooting to lead 65-38 after three quarters. In the final quarter, LU matched CSU with 14 points with Davis scoring six to reach double-figures.

Davis was selected as a member of the Bayou All-Tournament team after averaging 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the two contests.
 
The Cardinals will host St. Thomas (TX) Wednesday night at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 

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