CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas. - In what has been a recurring pattern between the Lamar University women's basketball team and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Cardinals saw a three-quarter double-digit lead evaporate by the surging Islanders in the fourth quarter. But thanks to clutch three's by Brooklyn Mitchell down the stretch, the Cardinals survived another Islander rally on their way to a 63-57 victory in Corpus Christi.
Mitchell finished as the top scorer for LU with 14 points including all three of LU's treys. For the seventh straight game, Akasha Davis recorded a double-double as she finished with 11 in both points and rebounds. Also with 11 points was Sabria Dean while NJ Weems recorded 10 points. R'Mani Taylor had a team-high five assists and grabbed nine rebounds on the boards.
The Cardinals finished shooting 44.2% from the field and dominated the glass with a 44-27 edge in rebounds. Their defense held AMCC to 38.2% from the field and one three-pointer all game long.
But from the start of the game, the Islanders raced out to an 8-3 lead. Dean would hit a pair of jumpers to close the gap to 10-7, but a 5-2 AMCC run made it 15-9 before the Cardinals answered with Mitchell's first basket. Down 15-12 after one, the Cardinals barely outshot the Islanders (45.5%-43.8%) from the field.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals held AMCC to eight points marking the 13th time this year any opponent scored single-digits in a quarter against Big Red. LU grabbed their first lead at 18-17 following a Dean lay-up only to allow AMCC to tie the game at 18. But from that point on till the end of the half, Big Red went on a 12-5 run to lead 30-23 at the break. This included a 7-0 run on four points from Weems and a three-point play by Taylor.
Big Red's momentum continued into the third quarter as they sparked a 9-2 run for a 39-25 lead. Davis tallied five points in the quarter including one that gave LU a 43-29 lead. While the Islanders closed the gap to eight, Mitchell's first three-pointer brought the lead back to double-digits. A lay-up by the Islanders made it 46-37 entering the final quarter.
But like the previous meetings, the Islanders stormed back as they netted 11 straight points to claim the lead. After Taylor tied the score, the Islanders retook the lead at 50-48. However, much like their slogan all season long, the Cardinals never folded. It was Mitchell who gave LU the lead for good with a three-pointer from the right corner. After a Davis free throw and a Dean jumper, Mitchell converted her third three of the contest while Taylor added a layup to complete the 11-0 run for a 59-50 lead. Despite the Islanders trying to play press on defense, all they could do was get within 60-55 and the Cardinals converted free throws to claim the win.
The second half of the conference season begins for LU as they'll hit the road this Thursday night to take on UIW in San Antonio. The tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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