Jan. 22, 2008

BEAUMONT - After leading the Lamar University women's basketball team to a pair of victories over Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, freshman Tamara Abalde was named the Southland Conference Player of the Week.

Abalde, a 6-2 guard from Vigo, Spain, led the way for the Lady Cards with a pair of double-doubles against the Ladyjacks and Bearkats. On Thursday night against SFA she had 22 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, followed by a 24 point 11 rebound performance at SHSU on Saturday.

Abalde leads Lamar and the SLC in scoring this season, averaging 17.2 points per game, while grabbing 7.6 rebounds per game, which ranks first on the team and fourth in the conference. In conference play Abalde has picked her game up even more, averaging a league-best 23.3 points and 11.3 rebounds which ranks third.

Abalde and the Lady Cardinals, who are 3-0 in conference play, will return to action on Thursday night when they host the Sugar Bears of Central Arkansas at 7 p.m. at the Montagne Center.