BEAUMONT, Texas – After seeing a seven-game win streak come to an end Saturday, Lamar University sits in a tie for second place in the Southland Conference standings (UT Rio Grande Valley). The Cardinals will look to bounce back Thursday as they host Northwestern State at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The game will start at 6:30 p.m. and be streamed on ESPN+.
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals (13-7, 10-3 SLC) suffered their first home loss of the season against McNeese, 64-52, Saturday at Neches Arena.
Shaila Forman led the way for LU with 12 points, while
R'Mani Taylor and
Kamryn Wilson finished with 10 points.
JUST WAIT TILL THE SECOND HALF
The Cardinals have proven to be a second-half team this season by outscoring their opponents, 674-598. LU averages 33.7 points per game in the third and fourth quarters combined, while its defense has limited opposing teams to 29.9 ppg. Big Red has won the second half in 12 games and holds an 11-1 mark when achieving this feat.
CLIMBING A NEW REBOUNDING HILL
Taliah Hill recorded her first career double-digit rebound game when she secured 10 boards against the Cowgirls. Her previous career high was nine against NSU three seasons ago. The Arlington graduate is currently third on the team with 4.5 rpg.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Cardinals let a late nine-point lead evaporate and fell to NSU, 60-57, at Prather Coliseum in their last meeting back in December. Taylor was LU's leading scorer with 16 points, while Forman added 11 points. Historically, the Demons lead the series, 39-26, but Big Red has won the last five meetings at Neches Arena.
ABOUT THE DEMONS
The Demons (11-9, 8-4) took down New Orleans, 78-61, in their most recent game. Vernell Atamah led NSU with 24 points, including six three-pointers, while Nya Valentine finished with 22 points, including four from behind the three-point line.
NSU SPOTLIGHT: VERNELL ATAMAH
Vernell Atamah remains the conference's leading scorer with 18.6 ppg, having scored double figures in all but two games this season. She scored 20 points or more in eleven games but finished with 19 against the Cardinals on 7-of-12 shooting in the last meeting. In three games against LU, she is averaging 11 ppg.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will travel to Nacogdoches while looking to sweep the regular season series against Stephen F. Austin Saturday at the William R. Johnson Coliseum. The game will start at 2:00 p.m. and be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on Newstalk 560 KLVI.
