The Lamar University women’s basketball team survived a fourth-quarter comeback from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, holding off the Islanders for a 54-50 win Saturday at the Montagne Center in Beaumont.
Leading by as many as 11 points late in the third quarter, Lamar allowed the Islanders back in the game and even trailed 49-48 with under five minutes left to play. However, the Cardinals responded just in time, ending the game on a 6-1 run thanks to some timely stops on defense and a few clutch free throws.
Senior guard Jadyn Pimentel sunk two shots from the line in the final seconds, securing the Cardinals (3-9, 2-1) second Southland Conference win this season.
After Lamar’s overtime loss to Sam Houston last Wednesday, Cardinals coach Aqua Franklin said her team showed maturity to close out the slim victory.
“We just had to find a way,” Franklin said. “I’ll take ugly wins any day.”
The close score wasn’t the only similarity between Saturday’s win and the previous Sam Houston game. In both contests, the Cardinals were tasked with attacking a zone defense.
While Sam Houston’s zone surprised Franklin and the Cardinals Wednesday night, they were much more prepared for the Islanders’ defensive strategy Saturday.
“We were more prepared because of what we saw from Sam, but I think our players were more confident to start the game,” Franklin said.
Lamar certainly started well, jumping out to a 27-16 lead by halftime. That advantage was fueled by an aggressive defensive effort by the Cardinals, who forced Corpus Christi into 20 turnovers in the first half alone.
Down low, junior forward Micaela Wilson did the most offensive damage. She scored 19 points and grabbed 11 boards in the win for what was her first double-double of the season.
Wilson has thrived against the zone defense, with her best performances this year coming in the last two games.
“I’m trying to find the open spots (in the zone) and do the best I can to help us win,” Wilson said.
Corpus Christi’s comeback started late in the third quarter and continued into the fourth. The Islanders had an 8-0 run in that third period that got them back within striking distance, then took the brief, one-point lead in the fourth quarter before Lamar eventually answered.
Lamar only shot 30.6 percent from the field in the win, but forced 30 turnovers to make up for it. Pimentel had five steals to go along with 12 points.
Angel Hastings, the Lady Cardinals’ top scorer this season, only played six minutes Saturday as she continues to deal with a leg injury. Bebe Galloway did not play with a leg injury as well.
After playing their last three games at home, the Cardinals now look ahead to a three-game road trip, starting next Wednesday against Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Matt Faye is a Sports Reporter and Columnist for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact him at MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here.
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