Jan. 11, 2008

SAN ANTONIO - The Lamar University women's basketball team opens Southland Conference play on the road this year, taking on the Roadrunners of UT-San Antonio at the Convocation Center on Saturday at 2 p.m.

UTSA holds a 13-11 advantage in the all-time series, but the Lady Cardinals won the last meeting a year ago in Beaumont. Lamar won last years SLC opener 60-46 at the Montagne Center.

The Lady Cardinals enter the game with a 7-6 record, on the heels of an 82-75 overtime loss at the University of Houston on January 2. Lamar is entering conference play with a record over .500 for the first time since the 1991-92 season.

LU is led in scoring by freshman Tamara Abalde, who is averaging 15.8 points per game along with 6.8 rebounds per game, while junior Nikki Williams is averaging 12.6 points per game and has a team-high 31 steals. Sophomore Brittney Williams is averaging 12.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game and senior Aida Bakhos leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game.

As a team the Lady Cardinals are shooting .376 from the field and are averaging 63.5 points per game while allowing 13.9 points per game. Lamar has controlled the boards this season, out rebounding their opponents 39.9 to 38.3.

The Roadrunners enter the game with a league-best 8-5 record, despite dripping five of their last seven contests. They were narrowly edged by SMU in their last game, falling 74-72 for their only home loss of the season, which gave them a 7-1 record at home this year.

UTSA is led by Whitney York's 11.6 points per game, while Terrie Davis and Jordan Stark are averaging 10.9 and 10.5 points per game respectively. Also playing a major role in the Roadrunners success is the play of preseason first team all conference selection Monica Gibbs who is averaging 8.4 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game.

As a team UTSA is averaging 67.5 points per game, while allowing 65.1 points per contest while being out rebounded 42.1 to 39.1. As a team they are shooting .376 from the field, while allowing their opponents to shoot .395 from the field.

After Saturday's SLC opener at UTSA, the Lady Cardinals will play another pair of SLC-West foes, taking on Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State on Thursday and Saturday. The SFA game on Thursday night at 7 p.m. will be LU's first home game in over a month.