Lamar has had one of the most consistently strong women's basketball programs in the Southland in recent years, and that is due in no small part to the strong leadership of head coach Aqua Franklin. Franklin was hired on May 1, 2019, and has since become one of the most successful head coaches in program history and is on the verge of becoming the most successful. In seven seasons under Aqua Franklin, Lamar holds a 120-86 (.583) overall record. The Cardinals have won 20-plus games in each of the past four seasons, finishing in the top three of the Southland regular season standings every one of those years. Notable postseason achievements include appearances at the WBIT in 2024 and the WNIT in 2026.

An integral part of Aqua Franklin's success at Lamar is her ability to develop and retain elite players. Franklin has coached many elite players during her time in Beaumont, including Sabria Dean, Akasha Davis, Kamryn Wilson, Jacei Denley and others. 

Franklin brought Sabria Dean to Beaumont ahead of the 2020-21 season, and Dean played a massive role in Lamar's success. Dean is the all-time program leader in games played (146) and amassed over 1,500 points, 300 assists and 200 steals during her time in Beaumont. She was named SLC Newcomer of the Year in 2021 and was First-Team All-Southland Conference in 2024 and 2025. 

Akasha Davis was another key player that Aqua Franklin coached. Davis was outstanding during her time in Beaumont, being named to three postseason all-conference squads, SLC Player of the Year and two-time SLC Student-Athlete of the Year and a two-time SLC All-Tournament Team selection. Additionally, Davis is Lamar's all-time leading rebounder with 1,079 boards during her career.

Kamryn Wilson is another standout Franklin has developed into an all-conference performer.
Franklin's ability to retain talent, specifically, has been one of her most impressive qualities. Davis was at Lamar for four years, Sabria Dean was in Beaumont for five, Jacei Denley is entering her fourth year as a Cardinal, Kamryn Wilson is entering her third year and that is just the tip of the iceberg. Not only does Franklin bring top players to Lamar, she keeps them here, and that is a testament to her incredible coaching. 

Lamar's strength under Franklin did not occur instantly but was rather the product of effective program-building. In her first season in Beaumont, Franklin (2019-20 season), took over a program that graduated a huge senior class and was forced to rebuild. That season, the Cardinals went 10-19 (.345). The following season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamar went 10-14 (.417). Even though the Cardinals had the same win total, the team's growth was evident. The following season, LU moved to a new conference (Western Athletics) posting a 14-15 (.483) mark. It was in the 2022-23 season, however, that Lamar had a breakout year.

That season, Lamar went 20-12 (.625) to start its current streak of consecutive 20-win seasons. The Cardinals finished third in the conference that year, with a 12-6 conference record. Lamar made it all the way to the Southland championship game before falling to Southeastern Louisiana. 

Lamar took another major step forward in the 2023-24 season, posting a 24-7 (.774) record with an impressive 17-1 mark in Southland play. The Cardinals were the Southland Conference regular season champions winning the league by three games. Following the season, Franklin was named 2024 Southland Coach of the Year. 

Lamar held a 14-game win streak from January 20 to March 13 of that year, which tied the longest streak in program history. The Cardinals fell just short in the Southland Conference tournament, losing to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi in the championship game. However, this was not the end of the season for Lamar, as the Cardinals earned a bid to the WBIT. While Lamar lost in the first round to top seed Washington State, a bid to a major postseason tournament marked another key milestone for Lamar women's basketball under Franklin's direction. 

In the 2024-25 season, the Cardinals maintained their streak of success with a 22-8 (.773) record and a 17-3 conference record. Lamar finished second in Southland standings that year, winning seven consecutive conference games to end the regular season before falling to SFA in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Lamar gained more postseason experience in the 2025-26 season, following their 20-11 (.645) record to secure a bid to the WNIT. That year marked Lamar's fourth-consecutive 20-win season and the Cardinals' second postseason bid under Franklin.

Now, the Cardinals are preparing for a promising 2026-27 season. Lamar is ranked first in the Southland preseason poll, receiving six first-place votes. In addition, Franklin is on pace to become the school's all-time leader in wins. She currently has 120 career victories, and she needs just nine more to break the all-time record. The Cardinals begin the regular season at home on November 2 against Louisiana Christian at 5:30 p.m.