BEAUMONT, Texas – As the regular season approaches its final weeks, Lamar University (19-7, 14-3 SLC) clings to a half game lead over Stephen F. Austin for the second seed in the Southland Conference standings. The Cardinals open this week playing their second-to-last game at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center this season against Nicholls (16-11, 9-9 SLC). The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Lamar vs. Nicholls
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 - 7:00 p.m.
Neches Arena - Beaumont, Texas
Series History vs. Nicholls - LU leads, 30-19
The Cardinals defeated Houston Christian 62-30, which stretched their win streak to four games. Akasha Davis posted her 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 16 rebounds. R'Mani Taylor tallied nine points and four rebounds while T'Aaliyah Miner netted eight points and secured five rebounds.
Sabria Dean scored eight points against HCU, which puts her total at 1,731 points. This makes her the second all-time leading scorer in LU history, passing Cardinals Hall of Honor member Uirannah Jackson (1,730). The all-time leader for points is Kalis Loyd, who finished her career with 1,967 points.
Davis needs just 19 rebounds to eclipse Cardinals Hall of Honor member Carolyn Ford for the most rebounds in program history. In 117 games, she has averaged 8.8 rebounds per game. Her career high for rebounds was 18, which she set twice (vs. Northwestern State - 1/27/25 and East Texas A&M -1/18/24).
A win on Thursday would mark the third straight season in the Aqua Franklin era that the Cardinals would have won 20 games. The last time LU had three straight 20-win seasons was between the 2016-17 and 2018-19 years under head coach Robin Harmony. All time, the Cardinals have had 16 20-win seasons in program history.
Big Red used a dominant third quarter to defeat the Colonels 67-53. Dean posted 19 points and grabbed six rebounds while also making history as the second Cardinal with 1,500 points, 300 assists, and 200 steals. Jacei Denley poured in 13 points and added three steals while R'Mani Taylor scored 10 points off the bench.
Nicholls Now More Than Ever
The Colonels currently sit in seventh and trail UIW and Northwestern State by a half game in the standings. This comes after losing three straight contests, including the most recent one, 59-50, at UT Rio Grande Valley. Tanita Swift is tied for fourth in the conference with 14.4 ppg.
LU's final home game at Neches Arena will be against Battle of the Border rival McNeese Saturday. The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m and will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI. It will also be Senior Day as five Cardinals (Davis, Cameron Dill, Taliah Hill, Miner, and Justice Ross) will be honored for their time in Beaumont.
#PeckEmCards
