THIBODAUX, La. — While they already had the No. 3 seed locked up for the upcoming Southland Conference tournament, Lamar University’s women’s basketball team sought to get a little revenge on the Nicholls Colonels for an earlier loss. After trailing 29-25 at the half, the Cardinals outscored Nicholls 45-28 in the second half to charge their way to a 70-57 victory. LU ends their regular season 18-11 overall and 12-6 in the conference. The 18 wins are the most by the Cardinals since the 2018-19 season and the most in the Aqua Franklin era.
It was a double 21-point performance that inspired the victory from both Akasha Davis, who grabbed a career-high 17 points to secure her ninth double-double on the year, and Portia Adams. Sabria Dean netted 18 points from the field and dished out a team-high four assists. Big Red shot 43.9% from the field to pull out the win.
LU started the game with a 7-2 run, which included five early points by Adams. Nicholls responded with seven straight to grab a 9-7 lead. Each side traded leads all the way through the final quarter as the Colonels scored the go-ahead basket to give Nicholls a 16-15 edge. The Cardinals converted 40.0% from the field as Adams had seven points.
The Colonels converted a three to open the second quarter while LU waited four minutes before they got their first point. The Cardinals struggled to hit from the field going three-of-13 while Nicholls, with help from three-of-four three-point shooting, brought themselves a 29-23 lead. Davis, who finished with nine first half points, netted the final lay-up as the Cards trailed 29-25 at the break.
A pattern would form as the second half got underway. Following an opening jumper by Nicholls, the Cardinals would cut the deficit to one. After another mini run pushed the Colonel lead to 36-30, the Cardinals answered with a mini 9-2 run to grab their first lead since 15-14 in the first quarter. With Nicholls back in front 40-39, the Cards turned the up the pressure as Davis and Dean combined for six points while a three by McQueen elevated the lead to 47-42. One point from both teams later, the Cards led 48-43 heading to the last quarter after heating up for 61.5% in the third.
LU’s hot surge carried to the fourth quarter as they charged to an 12-2 run for the game’s first double-digit lead at 60-45. The Colonels would trim the deficit to 10 points twice, but the Cardinals wouldn’t allow them any hope of coming back. All but two of LU’s 22 points came from the trio of Adams, Davis, and Dean as NJ Weems would tally the other two points in the end.
As the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Southland Conference tournament, the Cardinals will wait until Tuesday, March 7th at 1:30 p.m. to have their first tournament game since the 2020-21 season. The tournament will be hosted by McNeese at the take place at the H&HP Complex.
