March 7, 2008

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University women's basketball team will close out the regular season on Saturday when they host the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions at 4 p.m. at the Montagne Center.

The Lady Cards enter the game with a 16-12 overall record and a 9-6 mark in Southland Conference play. Their win on Thursday night at Nicholls State wrapped up the SLC-Eastern division championship and guaranteed them the No. 4 spot in the conference tournament which will be held next week in Katy, Texas.

Prior to the game the Lady Cards will recognize senior Aida Bakhos, who has put together the best season of her career this year.

For three years Bakhos watched and waited for her opportunity to start and make an impact for the Lady Cardinals. She has gotten that opportunity under the direction of first year head coach Larry Tidwell, and made the most of his final year in the red and white.

"I'm really satisfied that I finally got the opportunity to play and show everybody what I can do," Bakhos said. "I know that I can be a better player, no matter how well I'm playing, but overall I am very happy with the way this season has gone.

She enters the game with 193 points and 193 rebounds on the year, more than doubling the scoring and rebounding output from her first three years as a Lady Cardinals. Her average of 7.1 boards per game ranks eighth in the SLC this year. Her season-high in scoring and rebounding heading into this year was 58 and 92 which she tallied as a freshman during the 2004-05.

"I think I bring a lot of energy to the team and help defensively and in rebounding," she said. "Offensively I don't do as much. We have some very good offensive players so I just try to score off of my rebounding and help the other players on our team score. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are, and I try not to do too much. I think that helps our team play better."

Tidwell said the spirit Bakhos has brought to the court this season has played a major role in helping the team to its first winning season since the 1991-92 season.

"Aida has been a key factor in the success of the Lady Cardinal basketball program this year," Tidwell said. "She brings it every day on both ends of the court and plays with persistence, passion, and personality. She has taken her game to another level this year and is playing with great confidence. Also, Aida is the ultimate teammate and that speaks volumes of her as a person!"

Lamar is led by Nikki Williams who is averaging 13.8 points per game while averaging a team-best 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Tamara Abalde is averaging a team-high 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while Brittney Williams is averaging 13 points per contest.

As a team the Lady Cards are shooting .401 from the field and are averaging 64.7 points per game while allowing 63.8 points per game. Lamar has also won the battle on the boards this season, out rebounding their opponents 38.9 to 37.3.

Southeastern Louisiana enters the game with a 12-16 season record and a 6-9 mark in SLC play, on the heels of a 67-60 loss to McNeese State on Thursday night in Hammond, La.

The Lady Lions are led by Kristy Carlin's 13.7 points and 56.9 rebounds per game, while Brooke Necaise is averaging 10.4 points per game.

As a team SELA is averaging 64.4 points per game, while allowing their opponents to score 63.3 points per contest. They are shooting .399 from the field, while their opponents are connecting on .406 of their shots.