KFDM COOP Posted January 28, 2007 Report Posted January 28, 2007 Lamar women beat McNeese St. by 11 BEAUMONT - Somebody's losing skid had to snap when the Lamar University women's basketball team hosted McNeese State Saturday night in the Montagne Center. With the Lady Cardinals entering the contest having lost two consecutive games and the Cowgirls on the heels of a 12-game losing streak, the tide would turn for one team. Feeling warm at home in a place Lamar has won 8-of-10 games this season, the Lady Cardinals scraped together a 71-60 victory over McNeese in Southland Conference action. Lamar, which improves to 9-9 overall and 4-2 in SLC play, came into Saturday's game after losing road games to Central Arkansas and Northwestern State over the past week. After notching a five-game win streak and winning their first three SLC games earlier this month, the Lady Cardinals were certainly relieved to regain some success. "It was ugly, but at least we're on the correct column of the scoreboard," Lamar coach Leonard Drake said. "We didn't play nearly as well or as smoothly as I think we can play offensively. At times, they (the Cowgirls) had five guards on the floor, and we were scrambling to match up and then rotate." A slim four-point advantage is all Lamar held at halftime, but the Lady Cardinals jumped out with a 14-2 run over the first six minutes of the second half to extend the lead to 48-32. The Cowgirls, however, never gave up. McNeese (2-17 overall and 0-6 in SLC) continually attacked the basket and got to the free throw line where it shot 12-of-14 over the final 12 minutes. Powered by their ability to get into the paint, the Cowgirls slithered to within eight points when forward Reeshimah Davis delivered a layup off the glass with 9:25 left. Instead of sitting back and losing its third consecutive contest, Lamar didn't allow the Cowgirls to strike any closer the rest of the way. Five players netted double figures in scoring for the Lady Cardinals with freshman forward Brittney Williams and senior Dionne Pounds leading the way with 15 points apiece. Guard Alexis Timpone also chipped in with 13 points, while senior LaToya Carson and junior center Shaquita Coffey each scored 10. Courtnee' Hollins paced the Cowgirls with 22 points, including 5-of-7 shooting from behind the 3-point line. Lamar will now plat at Nicholls State on Thursday before hosting Southeastern Louisiana this coming Saturday. The Lady Cardinals are1-8 on the road this season and will look to improve that mark. "I don't even know who played well tonight," Drake said. "I'm just glad we got the win, and let's keep it going. The bottom line is we did enough to get the W. "Now we'll spend the next few days to get prepared to go to Thibodaux (La.) to play Nicholls."
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