Lamar closes strong to top SLU, 65-57, in Southland Conference women’s hoops opener

HAMMOND, La. – A pair of 8-0 runs to close each half proved the difference for Lamar, as the defending league regular season champions edged Southeastern Louisiana, 65-57, in the Southland Conference women’s basketball opener for both teams Wednesday night in the University Center.

Southeastern (3-6, 0-1 Southland) tied the game at the end of three quarters after trailing by as many as 12 early in the second half. With the game tied at 57, the Cardinals (5-5, 1-0 Southland) closed out the contest with eight straight points.

A pair of double figure scorers off the bench led SLU, as Alexius Horne and Morgan Carrier chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Caitlyn Williams flirdted with a double-double with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Celica Sterling added nine points for SLU.

Horne also led the SLU defensive effort with four steals. Williams, Aminat Jubril and Tyler Morrison each had one blocked shot apiece for the Lions.

Amber Vidal paced Lamar with 21 points, while Jadyn Pimentel added 10 points, along with a team-high four assists and four steals. Briana Laidler led the Lady Cardinals with 11 rebounds, while Rikiah Cowart contributed three blocked shots for LU.

First Quarter
Southeastern started the game with a nearly four-minute scoreless drought. The Lady Cardinals led by as many as nine before Southeastern rallied to cut it to 19-17 in the final minute.

Pimantel sent the Cardinals into the second quarter with some momentum, netting a long three to send Lamar into the break with a 22-17 advantage.

Second Quarter
Lamar built the lead back to nine early in the second quarter, but Southeastern would battle back again. A steal and layup by Hailey Giaratano cut the Cardinal advantage to 29-28 with 4:06 left in the second quarter.

Unfortunately for Southeastern, Giaratano’s bucket would be the final points of the first half for SLU. Lamar closed out the half on an 8-0 run to go into the break with a 37-28 advantage.

Third Quarter
Lamar looked to squash Southeastern’s chances for a comeback early in the third quarter. A Vidal free throw with 6:26 left in the period gave the Cardinals a 42-30 lead – its largest advantage.

Southeastern would not roll over, however. The Lady Lions would end the quarter on a 19-7 run, as the teams went into the final quarter knotted up, 49-49.

Fourth Quarter
Lamar scored the first four points of the period to retake the lead, but Southeastern again responded. A jumper by Sterling tied the score for the final time, 57-57, with 3:21 left.

A bucket by Shedricka Pierson gave LU the lead for good with 2:15 remaining. Southeastern had a chance to tie after a steal in the backcourt, but Giaratano’s tough shot rimmed out. Angel Hastings answered with a bucket on the next trip to push the lead to 61-57 with under a minute left. From there, Lamar would clinch the win from the free throw line.

Lamar 65 (5-5, 1-0 Southland)
Laidler 2-3 3-4 7, Pimentel 3-7 3-3 10, Hastings 2-8 5-6 9, Vidal 8-20 3-4 21, Miles 0-0 0-0 0, Pierson 3-6 0-0 7, Coward 4-9 1-5 9, Mitchell 1-2 0-0 2, McQueen 0-0 0-0 0, Collins 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 15-22 65.
Southeastern Louisiana 57 (3-6, 0-1 Southland)
Williams 3-5 3-4 9, Jubril 1-2 0-0 2, Dugas 2-6 3-4 7, Sterling 4-13 0-0 9, Morrison 0-0 0-0 0, Carrier 4-9 2-4 12, Francis 0-2 2-2 2, Ducksworth 0-4 1-2 1, Horne 4-7 5-5 13, Giaratano 1-8 0-0 2, Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-56 16-21 57.
End of 1st Quarter – LU 22, SLU 17. Halftime – LU 37, SLU 28. End of 3rd Quarter – SLU 49, LU 49. 3-point goals – LU 4-14 (Vidal 2-6, Pimentel 1-4, Pierson 1-2, Hastings 0-2), SLU 3-14 (Carrier 2-4, Sterling 1-4, Giaratano 0-3, Francis 0-2, Dugas 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – Horne. Rebounds – LU 40 (Laidler 11), SLU 36 (Williams 12). Assists – LU 10 (Pimentel 4), SLU 9 (Williams 2). Total Fouls – LU 18, SLU 23. A – 433.

Up Next
Southeastern will open its Southland Conference road slate on Saturday, facing Houston Baptist at 2 p.m. in Houston, Texas. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio and Lions Game Day Experience apps.