HAMMOND, La. - Despite trailing by three at halftime, Lamar University (14-5, 9-1 SLC) couldn't stop a strong third quarter from Southeastern Louisiana (17-3, 11-0 SLC), who handed the Cardinals a 60-48 loss Thursday at the Pride Roofing University Center. This puts an end to LU's nine-game winning streak.
NJ Weems led the Cardinals with 15 points while Akasha Davis posted 10 points and was one rebound shy of her third straight double-double. Sabria Dean tallied eight points while R'Mani Taylor (seven) and Justice Ross (six) combined for 13.
The Cardinals converted 35.4 percent from the field and matched the Lady Lions with 35 rebounds. Southeastern finished with 40.4 percent shooting and dominated the paint with 36 points. Defensively, the Lady Lions forced 19 turnovers, which led to 24 points.
After falling behind 4-0 to start the game, the Cardinals went on a 14-3 run, which included seven points from Weems and five from Dean. Down 14-7, the Lady Lions rallied back to tie the score at the end of the first quarter. Both teams converted 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the field.
Weems picked up her 10th point early in the second quarter with a three. Over the next six minutes, Southeastern roared to a 12-2 run for a 24-19 lead, which was sustainable for the rest of the game. Ross came off the bench to knock down a pair of jumpers only for the Lions to answer with a shot clock buzzer-beating three. One Cardinal free throw in the closing moments of the first half made the score 27-24 in Southeastern's favor.
The game started to get away from LU in the third quarter as they were outscored 21-10. Southeastern opened the third with 10 straight points on its way to hitting 10 field goals for 52 percent from the field. The Cardinals, who managed three made baskets in the quarter, were held without a point for the first six minutes. By the end of three quarters, the Lady Lions had a 48-34 lead.
LU had its only winning quarter in the final 10 minutes outscoring Southeastern 14-12. The Lady Lions had their largest lead at 58-40 before the Cardinals ended the game with an 8-2 run. Davis was able to score seven points to reach double figures in the fourth quarter, but the lead was too much to overcome.
The Cardinals will look to regroup Saturday when they take on Stephen F. Austin at the William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches. The game will tip off at 5 p.m.
#PeckEmCards
