BEAUMONT, Texas - Akasha Davis broke Lamar University's (21-7, 16-3 SLC) all-time rebounding record on Senior Day as she and four other seniors (Cameron Dill, Taliah Hill, T'Aaliyah Miner, Justice Ross) led the Cardinals to a 69-60 victory over McNeese (10-20, 5-14 SLC) Saturday at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena. This win also clinches the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament.
 
Needing six rebounds to break the previous mark, held by Cardinals Hall of Honor member Carolyn Ford (1,052), Davis grabbed 11 while scoring a game-high 17 points for her 12th double-double of the season. Sabria Dean, whose 135 consecutive games in the starting lineup streak came to an end Saturday, posted 14 points and stole the ball four times while Miner tallied her first double-double of the season (13 points and 10 rebounds). Sophomore Jacei Denley went off for 16 points.
 
Big Red shot 34.3 percent from the field in contrast to 37.9 by the Cowgirls. The Cardinals went to the line 26 times and made 21 while also out rebounding McNeese, 50-38. LU even received help with 39 points from its bench and racked up 12 steals.  
 
All five seniors would get the start for LU and early on, Miner made an impact blocking a shot and hitting a three-pointer. Down 6-4, Denley came off the bench to score six straight, which led to LU being up 12-6. After the Cowgirls tied the score at 12, LU ended the first quarter on a 6-2 run to lead 18-14 while making 36.4 percent.
 
A driving layup by Miner opened the second quarter to lead 20-14 before the Cowgirls got back to even at 22. Each team traded a pair of buckets until it was 26 all. Davis scored four of the six Cardinal points to give them a 32-26 lead at halftime. It was also with one second to go in the quarter where the Wylie senior secured career rebound 1,053.
 
McNeese opened the second half with five unanswered to get within one only for LU to answer with seven straight points. Another Cowgirls run saw the score reach 41-38 before KJ Walker connected on a three-pointer off the backboard. This led to LU finishing the third quarter up 50-42 on 37.5 percent shooting.
 
With 6:43 left to go, the Cowgirls had closed the gap to 54-48 and were threatening to end a 16-game skid to LU. That was until Dean scored eight points in the final quarter of her last home game. LU increased its lead to 13 with two minutes to go. Despite having a 44.4 percent shooting quarter, all McNeese could do was get within seven before a pair of Denley free throws made the 69-60 score final.
 
One game is left on LU's schedule as it will take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Wednesday at the American Bank Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. 

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