Dec. 3, 2008

Box Score

BEAUMONT – Junior Darika Hill recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead Lamar University to a 69-56 win over LSU-Shreveport Wednesday night in non-conference women’s basketball action at the Montagne Center.

Lamar, who improved to 4-1 on the season, returns to action Saturday when it hosts former Southland and Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana-Monroe at 2 p.m. LSUS dropped to 6-2 on the season.

The first half featured two ties and two lead changes. After a Brittney Williams free throw gave Lamar a 1-0 lead, Whitney Hollins nailed a three-pointer to put the Lady Pilots up 3-1. A Hill jumper tied the game at 3-3.

A pair of free throws by Janai Sells put LSUS up 5-3. Another Hill jumper tied the game at 5-5 and Trashanna Smith’s jumper at 14:26 gave Lamar the lead for good at 7-5. That started a 6-0 run for the Lady Cards. Lamar went on to take a 29-21 halftime lead.

After shooting just 32.1 percent from the field in the first half, the Lady Cardinals heated up in the second half, connecting on 16-of-29 shots (55.2%). Lamar built as much as a 12-point lead, 45-33, with 11:21 remaining in the contest on a Smith jumper.

The Lady Pilots used a 5-0 run to trim the lead to five points, 51-46, on an Amanda Perkins three-pointer and a Sells jumper at 7:13. That’s as close as LSUS would get the rest of the way.

Lamar responded with an 8-1 run to push the lead to 12, 59-47, on a Williams three point play. Emily Spickler drained a 3-pointer and a jumper during the run that put the game away.

Hill went 7-of-14 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line in recording her first career double-double at Lamar. Williams added 13 points, including scoring her 900th career point at Lamar. Nikki Williams chipped in 10 points and dished out four assists.

Lamar ended up shooting 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the field, 25 percent (4-of-16) from 3-point range and 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from the free throw line. The Lady Cardinals forced 16 turnovers which led to a 16-9 advantage in points off turnovers.

Sells led LSUS with 19 points and nine rebounds. Tish Flowers added 11 points. Amanda Perkins chipped in nine points and eight rebounds.

LSUS shot 32.7 percent from the field (17-of-52), 25 percent (3-of-12) from 3-point range and 76 percent (19-of-25) from free throw line for the game. The Lady Pilots outrebounded Lamar 40 to 36.