BEAUMONT, Texas –
Solenne Olenga recorded a double-double with career highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds as Lamar University pulled out a 62-52 victory over Nicholls at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center Thursday evening. The win marks the 116th of head coach
Aqua Franklin's career as she moved past Robin Harmony for second all-time in program history.
Thirteen of Olenga's points came in the third quarter as the junior from the Congo, made six field goals while blocking two shots and recording two steals.
T'Aaliyah Miner came one point shy of a double-double as she grabbed 10 rebounds.
LU shot 32.2 percent from the field, including six three-pointers. The Cardinals crashed the boards for 57 rebounds, including 38 on the defensive. The Colonels converted 19 LU turnovers into 16 points and tallied 17 fastbreak points.
Olenga's first basket and a free throw by
Shaila Forman were the only points scored in the first four minutes as each side struggled to make shots in the opening quarter. The Colonels got to within one before a 7-2 run put LU ahead, 13-7. After Nicholls answered with five consecutive points,
R'Mani Taylor scored a buzzer-beater to push Big Red up by three.
The game was tied at 19 midway through the second quarter when the Cardinals finished on an 11-0 run. Miner stepped up to score seven points while Walker connected on a pair of threes as LU led 30-19 at halftime.
Olenga then got hot to start the third quarter when she netted LU's first 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in eight minutes. The last four points came from free throws by
Alexis Parker and Wilson, which pushed the Cardinals' lead to 17 after three.
The Cardinals' lead was 19 with 7:13 to go in the game. For six-and-a-half minutes, the Colonels wouldn't yield, and they surged back to get within six with thirty seconds to go. LU iced the win with free throws by Jacey Denley and Forman.
Big Red will honor four seniors Saturday as they take on New Orleans at Neches Arena. The game will start at 3 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI.
