COMMERCE, Texas – Eleven players scored Wednesday afternoon as Lamar University secured its third Southland Conference win by defeating East Texas A&M, 64-48 at the Commerce Field House. The win was also the first road victory for Big Red.
 
For the third game in a row, R'Mani Taylor was the team's top scorer, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and dishing out six assists. T'Aaliyah Miner recorded her second double-double of the season (10 points, 11 rebounds).  
 
The Cardinals (6-5, 3-1 Southland) shot 44.2 percent from the field. The bench totaled 30 points while LU used its strength in the low post to score 28 in the paint. Big Red also outrebounded the Lions, 39-28 and blocked five shots.
 
ETAMU (5-6, 1-3 SLC) felt the wrath of the Cardinals' defense as its top scorer, Reza Po, was held to only two points. The Lions shot just 31 percent from the field, which included two quarters that they shot under 30 percent.
 
The Cardinals rattled off an 8-2 run to grab an 11-5 lead. ETAMU closed to within two, primarily due to knocking down seven free throws. Over the last two minutes of the first quarter, Taylor contributed to the final six points as she delivered a jumper and dished out assists on buckets by Taliah Hill and Miner for a 20-12 edge. LU finished shooting 53.3 percent from the field.
 
LU converted five field goals in the second quarter, but four of them were from behind the three-point line, including two from Taylor, who had 11 points in the first half. The Cardinals raced out to an 18-point lead, 38-20, before the Lions got a three-pointer before halftime.
 
Following three points from the Lions in the third quarter, LU further separated itself as it went on a 12-5 run. Miner scored five points in the quarter on two field goal attempts. The Lions managed three field goals against the Cardinals, who had their highest shooting quarter at 54%.5 percent to lead 53-34.
 
ETAMU outscored the Cardinals, 14-11 in the final quarter, but Big Red was able to get from role players Chisom Oguego and Alexis Parker to have every Cardinal who made an appearance find the scoreboard.
 
The Cardinals will gear up for their first showdown against McNeese Saturday in Lake Charles, La., at the Townsley Law Arena. The game starts at 1:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.