BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University found themselves in a hard-fought 40-minute contest against the New Orleans Privateers in their final regular season game at the Montagne Center for the year. The Cardinals found themselves up 61-60 with 12 seconds to go. But the Privateers would knock down the game-winning shot to put an end to LU’s seven-game winning streak. LU sits at 17-11 overall and their 11-6 record means that they will finish as the third seed of the Southland Conference Tournament.
Portia Adams finished as LU’s top score with 21 points and dished out a game-high five assists. Akasha Davis tallied 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. In her final home game of her career, Malay McQueen finished scored 10 points, including a pair of threes. LU finished shooting 38.6% from the field.
From the opening tip, the Cardinals got off to a good start taking a 6-2 lead. UNO would be able to cut the margin down to 9-7 before the Cardinals would end the quarter with a 6-3 run to lead 15-10. Davis would tally six for the quarter in which LU converted 46.15% from the field.
But the second quarter proved to be a problem as LU struggled to hit from the field. Making four-of-14 shots for 28.57%, the Cardinals did build a 24-19 lead only to let the Privateers back in and ahead by halftime at 25-24. Part of the struggle for LU was their inability to hit from downtown missing nine of their 10 three-point attempts.
As the second half started, neither side were able to put distance between each other as most of the quarter was a one-possession contest. Davis would pick up six points, including a pair a free throws to give LU a 41-38 lead. But, she also collected two fouls to put her on the bench with four for the game. A three-pointer by R’Mani Taylor gave LU a five-point lead at 44-39 only for UNO to get the final three points and give LU a 44-42 edge going to the final quarter.
The Privateers carried their late momentum from the third into the fourth quarter as they stormed out to a 50-44 lead midway through the period. Davis was brought back in and she would contribute to the next five points with an assist on an Adams’ three and a lay-up cutting the deficit to 50-49. But again, the Privateers had an answer as they would pick up an 8-2 run to lead 58-51 with 3:07 to go.
Undaunted, the Cards fought back as they tied the score at 58 with 1:18 left. The Privateers took the lead with 56 seconds left forcing LU to call a timeout. LU drew up a play and it was Adams, who hit the three-point shot with 31 seconds left. UNO ran some clock before calling their timeout and they would get the go-ahead basket. The Cards had one chance to seal victory, but the last shot did not go down and their winning streak ended at seven.
Only one game remains for the Cardinals before they head to the conference tournament. Big Red will travel to Thibodaux, La., for their game against Nicholls this Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.