BEAUMONT, Texas — While Lamar University’s women’s basketball team battled Nicholls University into overtime, the major gap in shooting performances proved decisive as the Colonels had all the breaks in a 80-74 win over LU. The Cardinals are currently 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the conference following the loss.
Nicholls finished the game shooting 63.0% from the field from all five of their starters while LU made just 32.5%. Sabria Dean led LU with 26 points while both post players of Akasha Davis (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Emma Imevbore (12 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles each. Also scoring double figures was Malay McQueen, who netted 10 points.
The first quarter featured both teams shooting over 50% from the field. The Cardinals went eight-of-14 while the Colonels converted nine-of-13. Big Red did lead by four points on a few occasions. R’Mani Taylor produced four assists in the quarter as LU led 21-19 after the first.
Behind six-of-nine made field goals, Nicholls took command of the second quarter early on with two runs. First was a 10-3 surge to put them up 29-24. Follow an Imevbore three-point play, the Colonels tallied five straight to go up 34-27. However, the Cardinals responded with a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 35-33 by halftime.
The Colonels created another momentum swing going on a 15-5 run, which ignited their third straight 60% or higher quarter. But with Dean scoring nine points, Big Red battled back to within 54-51 before a layup by Nicholls extended the margin to five. In that quarter, LU converted 33.3% from the field.
LU won the fourth quarter scoring 14 of the 23 total points as they retook the lead with 6:48 to go. But Nicholls would go on a six point run to lead 64-61 only for McQueen to knock down a game-tying three with 1:04 to go. Each team would convert a free throw in the final minute as the game proceeded to overtime.
McQueen gave LU the early lead in overtime with a three. But with LU up 70-67, the game shifted as the Cardinals would lose four players to fouls and Nicholls took advantage of the absences with a 9-0 run. All LU could do was cut the game to 78-74, but the Colonels sealed the 80-74 win with free throws.
The Cardinals hit the road to Texas A&M-Commerce to meet with the Lions in Commerce. Tip-off starts at 2:00 p.m.