BEAUMONT, Texas - Having clinched a share of the regular season Southland Conference title, Lamar University's women's basketball team will seek to gain the title outright as they travel to Natchitoches, La., to face-off with Northwestern State on Saturday. Needing just a win on Saturday, Big Red will tip-off with the Demons at 1:00 PM.
MADE IT MA! TOP OF THE SOUTHLAND
The Cardinals defeated Texas A&M-Commerce 74-58, which along with Southeastern Louisiana losing to UIW clinched them a share of the regular season Southland Conference title. This is the first time since 2018-19 that LU has won a regular season conference championship. LU is also in the midst of an 11-game winning streak, which is one shy of the 12-game winning streak held by the 2018-19 squad. The win has also garnered them the number one seed in the conference tournament.
UNDEFEATED IN FEBRUARY
The Cardinals finished 9-0 in the month of February. Last season, they went 7-1 having won their first seven games in the month before losing to New Orleans.
20 QUARTERS OF SINGLE PLAY
For the 20th time this season, LU held an opponent to single digits in a quarter as they allowed nine points from AMC. In just 17 games that this happened, the Cardinals are 16-1 when they achieved this feat. In total, LU has allowed single digit quarters in five firsts, eight seconds, five thirds and two fourths.
75 WINS FOR AQUA
Thursday's win marked the 75th career victory for LU head coach Aqua Franklin. The Texas A&M-alum is in her fifth season with the Cardinal program and has also set a new season-high for wins with 21 after winning 20 last year. In her tenure as LU head coach, she has never had a season of nine or fewer wins.
LAST TIME VS THE DEMONS
The Cardinals defeated the Demons 73-56 in Beaumont. That was when Sabria Dean tallied her second straight 29-point game, including 17 in the first half. The Cardinals are 23-38 all-time against the Demons, but 9-17 all-time in Natchitoches. Last season, LU lost 54-52 despite 15 points from Davis.
SINCE WE LAST MET
The Demons are in a three-way tie for fifth with New Orleans and Nicholls. They recently defeated the latter 55-47 led by 15 points from Jiselle Woodson and Karmelah Dean.
THE DE CLUB-DEMON & DEFENSE
The Demons are fifth in the conference allowing 60.6 ppg. Only twice did they allow 70 or more points in a game during conference play.
IT WAS A DEAN WAR LAST TIME
While Sabria Dean finished with 29 points in their last meeting, Karmelah Dean (no relation to Sabria) finished with a team-high 16 points for the Demons. She went five-of-10 from the field, including two from downtown.
WALTZING SHARNA
From the land down under in Melbourne, Australia, Sharna Ayres had a career-high 24 points in the Demons' win last Saturday over Houston Christian. Averaging 11.0 ppg, which has her second on the team, Ayres leads the conference with 66 made three-pointers and is fifth in three-point percentage (.351).
UP NEXT FOR LU
LU's final game will take place on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. as they will be hosting Houston Christian.
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