BEAUMONT, Texas - Tied at 12 after the first quarter, Lamar University's dozen used its trademark defense to outscore Houston Christian 57-17 over the final three quarters for a 69-29 victory. The Cardinals are now 8-4 overall and they remain one of two undefeated teams in Southland Conference play at 3-0. 

Akasha Davis led LU with 13 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. She also recorded a pair of blocks along with Justice Ross (four points) and NJ Weems (five points). R'Mani Taylor and Kamryn Wilson each tallied eight points while Sabria Dean finished the contest with seven. 

LU shot 40.3 percent from the field, which including 8-of-16 three-point attempts. By limiting the Huskies to just a field goal in the second and third quarters each, LU's suffocating defense prevented HCU from making more than 24.4 percent all game long. 

The Cardinals and Huskies battled to a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter as each side converted five field goals. Dean led the Cardinals with seven points in the quarter while Taliah Hill converted a three-point play. Although it was held to 27.5 percent, Big Red conceded 11 shot attempts to HCU. 

Once the second quarter started, so did the dominating defense, which helped the Cardinals take command with a 15-3 run. HCU managed one three-pointer on 12.5 percent from the field, but that didn't come until after Big Red started the quarter on a 10-0 run. Davis recorded seven points as the home team connected on 41.7 percent for the 27-15 cushion at the break.

A sense of deja vu occurred in the third quarter as Big Red would again hold HCU to three points while scoring 24 to lead 51-18. This quarter belonged to Kamryn Wilson and Jacei Denley, who combined for 14 points and four three-pointers. Davis posted four points to be at 13 before her day came to an end as she was subbed out. The two quarters in which the Huskies scored three points would be the lowest LU allowed in a quarter to date. 

Playing the entire fourth quarter with the reserves, the Cardinals converted a game-high 53.3 percent from the field. Ross scored all her points in the fourth while KJ Walker and Cameron Dill each connected on a three-pointer. Halfway through the quarter, Bebe Galloway became the last Cardinal to get on the scoreboard. With all the Cardinals having scored, LU's defense set its sights on holding HCU to a season-low 29 points by the end of the game. 

The Cardinals will look to carry the momentum into Thursday as it will host New Orleans at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. 

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