BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University (20-7, 15-3 SLC) commanded the game from start to finish as it knocked off Nicholls (16-12, 9-10 SLC), 68-49 Thursday at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. This marks the third-straight campaign the Cardinals have won 20 games in the Aqua Franklin era and the 16th time LU has achieved the feat.
Four Cardinals reached double figures as Akasha Davis totaled her fourth straight double-double and 11th of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She will need six rebounds to eclipse Cardinals Hall of Honor member Carolyn Ford for most in program history. Jacei Denley posted 12 points while NJ Weems recorded 11. Coming off the bench, KJ Walker set a new season-high with 13 points including three shots from downtown.
The Cardinals converted 40.7 percent from the field, including six threes while also making 14-of-18 from the free throw line. Big Red dominated the paint with 42 rebounds, including 17 offensive boards and was helped by 20 points off the bench.
The Cardinals opened with nine unanswered points while Nicholls wouldn't find the basket until its seventh shot of the game. It would be 14-2, LU after Walker's first three-pointer was followed by a steal and score from Denley. LU held the Colonels to two field goals and a free throw while making 45.5 percent, which gave them an 18-5 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw a huge boost from Davis, who not only totaled eight points in a five-minute stretch but also grabbed eight rebounds to finish with nine in the first half. Walker added a couple of points as the Cardinals increased their lead to 32-17 at the break. The Colonels outshot LU in the quarter with 35.1 percent, but lost the battle of the boards, 15-9.
In the third quarter, the Colonels outscored LU, 17-14, which made it 46-34 in Big Red's favor. Nicholls made 5-of-8 from the field while the Cardinals went 6-of-17. Walker's second three-pointer of the game got her first-career double-digit game while Weems recorded six points to lead LU.
Nicholls started the fourth quarter with a quick 7-3 run to get within eight with 7:48 to go. From that point on, it was all LU as the Cardinals put the game out of reach with a 17-4 run on 58.3 percent shooting to have its largest lead at 66-45. Four of the final six points came from the Colonels, who finished with 50 percent.
With two Southland Conference games left in the regular season, LU leads Stephen F. Austin by a half game for second place in the conference standings. The Cardinals will honor five seniors Saturday prior to the start of their game with McNeese. The game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.
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