LAKE CHARLES, La. — For the seventh year in a row, Lamar University’s women’s basketball team completed a sweep of the Battle of the Border classic against the McNeese Cowgirls as they ran a dominating 79-48 win. Not only does this make it 12 straight wins over the Cowgirls for LU, but it also makes them 11-10 overall and back to level at 5-5 in the Southland Conference.
On this night, the Cardinals would benefit with three players reaching double-figures, including Akasha Davis, who tallied a game-high 20 points, including a perfect eight-of-eight from the free throw line. Malay McQueen recorded 16 points, including four threes while Sabria Dean added 13 points. LU finished the game shooting 48.2% from the field.
Both teams traded baskets and leads in the early part of the first quarter. Davis dominated the post play for the Cardinals with eight points. LU grabbed the game’s first multi-possession lead as McQueen converted a three with 1:10 to make it 15-10. Only a free throw by McNeese was the final score of the quarter with LU leading in both the game and in the shooting percentage department (35.7%-33.3%).
A pair of buckets by the Cowgirls’ Desirae Hansen knotted the score at 15 to start the second quarter. But McQueen’s second three of the game along with a suffocating defense, started a 19-3 run, including 13 straight, which brought the score to 34-18. Dean caught fire putting up eight points in the quarter as the Cardinals, with the 43.8% shooting racked up a 36-22 lead.
Big Red’s momentum carried into the third quarter with a 9-2 opening run to build a 21-point lead at 45-24. McNeese answered with five quick points, but LU regained control with a 13-3 run to lead 58-32. McQueen netted eight points to get her 14th point of the contest, including a buzzer-beating three that saw LU lead 61-34.
That proved to be too much to overcome for the Cowgirls as in the fourth quarter, LU managed to bring in Anaya Bernard, who contributed six points off the bench. Davis obtained her 20th point marking the third time this season she reached the 20-point plateau. The Cardinals came within two seconds of matching a season best of points allowed before a late free McNeese free throw ended the game.
The Cardinals return to the Montagne Center this Saturday afternoon for a 3:00 p.m., tip-off against Northwestern State.