BEAUMONT, Texas - NJ Weems and Akasha Davis combined for 47 points as Lamar (10-4/5-0 SLC) edged out rival Stephen F. Austin (13-4/3-3) in a 77-74 Southland Conference thriller Saturday afternoon at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The Cardinals are on a five-game winning streak after sweeping their homestand.
 
Weems (26) came within one point of her career-high as she finished the game hitting 13-of-18 shots from the field. Davis (three steals, one block) tied a season-high of 21 points and secured 10 rebounds for a double-double while Sabria Dean tallied 19 points, including four three-pointers. Jacei Denley (six points) and R'Mani Taylor each dished out five assists.
 
Big Red outshot the Ladyjacks (46.0) with 48.4 percent from the field. The Cardinals edged out SFA on the glass (33-31) and forced 20 turnovers, which led to 22 points.
 
The Ladyjacks started the game by knocking down four of their first five shots to lead 8-2. Undeterred, Big Red answered with a 13-5 surge to tie the score at 15. Weems led the Cardinals with six points in the quarter as LU converted better than 48 percent of its shots in the opening 10 minutes, but SFA shot better (53.1) from the field and would end the quarter on a 7-2 run to lead 22-17.
 
SFA grew its lead to 26-17 early in the second quarter. That was when the Cardinals woke up and scored 17 of the final 23 points to end the first half. LU got a boost from Dean, who netted seven points in the quarter while Weems' 10th point tied the score at 29. Down by one, Justice Ross gave the Cardinals their first lead of the game on a layup. Although the Ladyjacks retook the lead, Dean's second three of the day propelled LU to a 34-32 edge at the break.
 
The third quarter became a seesaw affair as neither side could build a lead of more than one possession. The front-court pair of Davis and Weems combined for 10 points as the Cardinals drilled 43.75 percent from the field in the quarter. However, it was the Ladyjacks who scored in the closing seconds to secure a 51-50 lead heading into the final quarter.

Once the fourth quarter started, the Cardinals got a big break as the Ladyjacks lost both of their post players to fouls. Weems would capitalize on the absence by scoring 10 points in the quarter, which handed the Cardinals their first two-possession lead (64-60). Following an SFA three-pointer, Davis converted a layup, while Dean's three from the right corner at 2:12 appeared to be an early knockout punch as LU led 69-63. SFA refused to back down by tying the game with back-to-back threes approaching the final minute.

Davis scored to put LU up by two before Denley and Dean each converted free throws to push the lead to 74-69. With 10 seconds left, the Ladyjacks closed within 75-74 before Dean made two more free throws. A last-second shot to tie the game clanged off the iron and LU escaped with the victory.


After five games at home, LU will head down to South Louisiana for its next matchup against Nicholls. The game is scheduled for Thursday and will tip off at 6:30 p.m.
 

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