Moe Kinard scored 24 points to lead four Lamar University Cardinals in double figures, while Kiandra Bowers registered her 30^th career double-double as LU rolled to its 23^rd straight home win, an 83-58 decision over the McNeese Cowgirls in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Saturday.

The Cardinals (13-6 overall, 8-1 Southland) won their fifth straight game. DeA’ngela Mathis had 18 points for LU, Chastadie Barrs finished with 15 points, nine assists and eight steals, while Bowers added 11 points and 11 rebounds. With the win, LU remained a half-game behind conference-leading Stephen F. Austin (16-3, 8-0), which was a 75-53 winner at Sam Houston State on Saturday.

LU led 21-16 after the first quarter before opening the second quarter on a 7-0 run over the first 2:02 of the period, forcing the Cowgirls to call timeout. McNeese (8-11, 4-4) rallied to tie the game at 30 before LU close the quarter with another 7-0 run capped by a Kinard 3-pointer.

“We knew McNeese was going to make a run, but our kids answered. They didn’t give up, they didn’t pout,” Harmony said. “They continued to play hard.”

“It’s really hard to stop us,” Harmony said. “We have Chas, who can drive the ball to the rack at any time. DeA’ngela can hit off the bounce or hit the 3. Moe can do the same. We can feed Kiandra in the post, and if we do miss any of those outside shots, clean up on Aisle 5 with those 800 rebounds Kiandra has.”

Bowers boosted her career rebound total to 811, while pushing her career points to 1,109, one shy of Dominique Edwards for 10^th place on LU’s all-time list. Meanwhile, Barrs, who leads the nation in steals, pushed her season total to 127, 15 shy of her LU and Southland Conference record of 142 set last season. Barrs, the two-time Southland Conference defensive player of the year, has at least one steal in all 80 games of her career.

McNeese committed 29 turnovers, compared to just 13 for LU. As a result, the Cardinals had a 37-11 advantage in points off turnovers. LU shot 29-of-77 (37.7 percent) from the field, while McNeese was 24-of-61 (39.3 percent). LU took advantage of a physical McNeese team that was whistled for 24 fouls. LU was 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) from the line, while McNeese was 6-of-13 (46.2 percent).

Mercedes Rogers came off the bench to notch a double-double for McNeese, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmyn Carswell added 10 points for the Cowgirls.

The 23 straight home wins extends a program record.

“These guys have pride,” Harmony said of her team. “They want to play well in front of their fans. They want them to continue to come back out. We want to grow our fan bases, and the best way to do that is to win. The fans are the sixth man for us. They make a big difference.”

The Cardinals go for their 24^th straight home win at 7 p.m. Wednesday, in the second of four straight home games for LU as they host Abilene Christian.

TICKETS: For tickets for LU home games, please call 409-880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com. The Montagne Center ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. It reopens one hour prior to tipoff on weeknights and weekends. LU students receive free admission to home games with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members are admitted for free when they present their membership badge.

PROMOTIONS: Wednesday will feature a student-organization challenge with prizes given to the organizations showing the most spirit during the game. A postgame autograph session will feature the four juniors on this season’s LU squad.

BANNER DAY: LU will honor three former greats at halftime of the Feb. 3 game vs. Stephen F. Austin as Carolyn Ford, Kalis Loyd and Carol Sims will have their jerseys retired during a banner-raising ceremony. All three will be on hand for the event.

Remaining Schedule 

Cardinals Defend Home, Defeat Rivals

 Five Cardinals scored in double figures as Lamar University overcame a slow start to defeat rival McNeese, 86-80, Saturday afternoon at the Montagne Center. It marks the first time since the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons that Big Red has won three straight against the Cowboys.
 
Two Cardinals recorded a double-double as LU (13-9/5-4 Southland) finished the night shooting 45 percent from the field, including six three-pointers, and a 30-of-39 (.769) performance from the free throw line. Big Red also dominated the glass pulling down 10 more boards than their opponents, 38-28, including a 10-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. The Cards used their advantage on the glass to record a 13-6 lead in second chance points.
 
Both teams did a good job of taking care of the basketball turning it over just 10 times. Only four of LU’s miscues came in the second half.
 
Seniors Colton Weisbrod and Joey Frenchwood led the way with 19 points, while junior Josh Nzeakor and senior Zjori Bosha each finished the game with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior James Harrison chipped in 10 for the Red and White.
 
The Cowboys (7-11/4-4 SLC) finished the night with three players in double figures led by Kalob Ledoux’s 20 points. Ledoux paced a McNeese offense that shot 49 percent from the field, including a 9-of-20 (.450) effort on three-pointers. The Cowboys converted 13-of-15 (.867) attempts at the free throw line.
 
“Rivalry games always have a lot of energy, and a ton of drama especially when Lamar and McNeese play,” said LU head coach Tic Price. “McNeese came out of the gate with a lot more effort and energy than we did, but I thought our kids responded with some toughness. It was like two boxers in the ring – punch, counter punch. What I really liked the most is we showed some toughness on the glass. They beat us up pretty good in the first couple of minutes but as the game progressed we got stronger in the effort areas.”
 
Both teams faced double-digit deficits, and both rallied to take the lead. Both went through cold spells only to find their rhythm and get their opponent back on its heels.
 
The first half alone was two different games as the Cowboys came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. McNeese outscored the Cardinals, 30-13, in the opening 10:21 to silence the predominantly Red and White crowd. On the verge of being knocked out early, the Cardinals didn’t allow the lead to grow any further and began to fight their way out of the corner.
 
Sparked by a Frenchwood three-pointer and a Kalob Ledoux technical foul, the Cardinals outscored McNeese, 27-7, over the next 7:30 to take their first lead of the game, 40-37. The Cowboys battled back to take a one-point lead with seconds remaining in the half. The Cardinals exited the floor with the final parting shot of the half as Bosha followed up a T.J. Atwood miss at the buzzer for the lead.
 
“We really had some guys step up today,” said Price. “We did a good job of sharing the basketball with five guys in double figures, and two with double-doubles. Every guy that played really stepped up and we had some good moments. On the other hand, we also had some moments where we were way too casual, especially for a game of this magnitude.”
 
The technical foul against McNeese was one of three charged against the Cowboys in the game, including two in the second half, and LU made them pay for the mistakes. The Red and White converted all six technical foul shots.
 
The Cardinals carried that momentum into the second half jumping out of the gate to take an eight-point lead. Frenchwood buried another three for the first points of the half, and the Cardinals opened on a 14-4 run to take an 11-point lead with just over 16 minutes remaining.
 
After LU pushed its lead to 12 following an Atwood three-ball, McNeese made a run similar to LU’s from the first half.
 
The Cowboys responded with a 15-7 run to trim the deficit down to three, 65-62, with more than 11 minutes remaining. McNeese forged their way back in front following two Stephen Ugochukwu free throws, 74-73, with 7:17 on the clock. The Cowboys were aided by four consecutive three-pointers to whittle away at LU’s lead.
 
The game would become a back-n-forth affair for the next 4:30 until the Cardinals reclaimed the lead for the final time on two Torey Noel free throws. After getting a stop, the Cardinals put the ball in the hands of Bosha who drove to basket for an acrobatic layup in traffic for the score. The Cardinals would tack on three more points – all via the free throw line – to push their lead back to seven with 22 seconds remaining. The Cowboys closed the game with only one more field goal, and were outscored, 9-2, in the final 3:51 after taking a one-point lead.
“Our fans were phenomenal,” said Price. “Our guys really fed off their energy today, and they were there for us when we needed them the most. We didn’t give them much to cheer about early in the game but they were our sixth man.”
 
The Cardinals now turn their attention to a game against Abilene Christian Wednesday when they travel to Abilene, Texas. The game against the Wildcats will tip off at 7 p.m. from Moody Coliseum. 

Remaining Schedule