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Lady Cardinals squeak past SHSU, 81-76

LU senior, Chastadie Barrs, leads her team in a play during the Lady Cardinals, 81-76, win over Sam Houston State, Saturday, in the Montagne Center. With the win the Lady Cards secure their 39th win in a row at home. UP photo by Cade Smith
LU senior, Chastadie Barrs, leads her team in a play during the Lady Cardinals, 81-76, win over Sam Houston State, Saturday, in the Montagne Center. With the win the Lady Cards secure their 39th win in a row at home. UP photo by Cade Smith

The Lady Cards basketball team defeated the Sam Houston State University Bearkats, 81-76 in the Montagne Center, Saturday, making them 19-5 overall and 12-1 in Southland Conference play. With the win the Cardinals have extended their home court win streak to 39 games.

“Obviously we knew we were going to play a really good team,” head coach Robin Harmony said. “Last time we played them at their place it was a 10-point game. They have gotten better but we hung in there and found a way to win.”

The Lady Cards shot 41.3 percent ( 31-of-75) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from 3-point range and 81.3 percent (13-of-16) from the free-throw line. LU also forced Sam Houston into 19 turnovers.

“Hats off to our kids to get the W and they never gave up,” Harmony said. “We were up by 10 twice and they made a run back at us. We kept our composure and did what we needed to do to get the dub.”

The Bearkats led 28-21 after the first quarter, before LU came back and took the lead 44-42 at halftime.

“In that heat of the moment we wanted to make sure that we did take good shots,” Harmony said. “She (Umaja Collins) had a really nice put back and I held my breath as everyone else did in the gym. We also wanted to make sure we kept the ball in the right hands.”

The Cardinals came back at halftime over the next three minutes of the quarter to grow their lead by five, 49-44, after a Chastadie Barrs layup. Following the layup, the Cards extended the lead by 12 points, 58-46, after a layup by Miya Crump. The Bearkats battled back with a layup from La’Sha Hayes to trail by four, 60-56.

The Cards would keep the momentum going ending the third quarter, 68-61 after a Jadyn Pimentel layup.

In the fourth quarter, the Bearkats would tie the game at 74 after a 3-pointer from Jaylonn Walker. On the next possession, Collins grabbed an offensive rebound and put Lamar ahead, 76-74. After the Collins rebound LU did not falter and  came away with the victory over Sam Houston State.

The Lady Cardinals were led by five players in double-figures, Crump with 22 points, Moe Kinard with 17 points, Pimentel with 15 points, Barrs with 13 points, and Collins with 12 points.

Barrs also broke the LU career assists mark with 657, a record that was previously held by Ramona Jones at 653. Along with the record, Barrs also recorded six steals and now has 600 career steals making her 25 away from setting the career NCAA steals mark.

“It’s big for me,” Barrs said. “I am really excited, I trust my teammates to make the shots down and pass me the ball. It’s a big thing for me and it’s an accolade that I will cherish at my time at Lamar. I am happy for me and my team, the main thing is that we got the win today.”

The Cardinals will return to action, Wednesday, when they host the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals in the Montagne Center. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.


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Category: Sports