Feb. 28, 2008

Box Score

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University women's basketball team could not overcome a hot overtime start by the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders on Thursday night, falling 69-67 at the Montagne Center.

The Islanders opened overtime with a Nyesha Adams jumper with 4:30 to play and followed with a long three pointer from the top of the key by Shaye Montgomery to give them a 65-60 lead with 3:27 left. The Lady Cardinals finally scored their first points of the second half on a baseline jumper by Trashanna Smith with 1:39 left in the extra frame.

The Islanders responded on their next possession as Montgomery sank a pair of free throws, raising the lead back to five points with 35 seconds remaining.

Lamar responded with a Nikki Williams jumper to cut the game to three points with 17 seconds to play, but Corpus knocked down two of their final four free throws to go back up by five. Tamara Abalde knocked down a three pointer from the top of the key with under a second to play to get the Lady Cards within two points, but it was not enough as Corpus Christi was able to run out the clock for the win.

The two teams battled to a 60-60 tie with 1:13 to play in regulation, as Tamara Abalde knocked down a free throw line jumper to knot the score. Both teams had an opportunity for a final shot at winning the game, but both turned the ball over.

The Lady Cards looked like they would have the last shot after Adams turned the ball over with 53 seconds to play, but LU could not capitalize. After an Abalde turnover with five seconds to play, the Islanders had one last shot, but a desperation three pointer at the buzzer was too hard off the back of the rim.

In the first half both teams used several runs to control the pace of the game, each building a five point lead in the final eight minutes of play. The Lady Cards closed out the half on a 5-0 run to tie the game at 29 heading into halftime.

With the loss the Lady Cardinals fall to 14-12 overall and 7-6 in Southland Conference play, while Northwestern State improves to 10-16 overall and 6-7 in conference play.

Brittney Williams and Nikki Williams led the way for LU with 18 points apiece, while Smith posted the first double-double of her career with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Abalde also scored in double figures with 12 points.

As a team the Lady Cardinals shot 41.5 percent from the field, while Texas A&M-Corpus Christi knocked down 42.6 percent of their field goals. The rebounding battle was won by the Islanders 39 to 38, while LU turned the ball over 14 times to Corpus' 17 giveaways.

The Lady Cards will be in action again on Saturday afternoon when they take on the McNeese State Cowgirls in Lake Charles, La. Game time is set for 4 p.m. and will be the beginning of a double header with the LU men who tip off at 6:30 p.m.