Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Lamar junior Chastadie Barrs became the Southland Conference all-time leader in career steals to highlight LU’s 77-54 women’s basketball victory over visiting Incarnate Word on Thursday evening.

Barrs had 19 points and a career-high 12 steals for her sixth double-double of the season. The 12 steals pushed her career total to 368, smashing the previous record of 359 set by Nina Randle of Louisiana-Monroe. The two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year has at least one steal in all 77 games in her career.

“Hard work pays off. I do take pride in my defense,” Barrs said. “I hang my hat on that. I go out every game and try to play good defense because I know my teammates feed off my intensity.”

While Barrs stole the spotlight to go along with her 12 steals, she wasn’t the only Cardinal contributing on defense to help LU win its 21st straight home game, matching the LU mark established during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

As a team, LU had 27 steals as UIW had 35 turnovers on the night. As a result, LU had a 34-14 edge in points off turnovers. Moe Kinard had a career-high five steals for LU (10-6 overall, 5-1 Southland), while DeA’ngela Mathis finished with a career-high four steals.

Barrs’ 12 steals, were one shy of the LU record of 13 held by Neno Anguiano, who set the mark against Centenary on Dec. 8, 1999. Anguiano’s baker dozen also tied a conference record.

“We were hoping Chas could get two more to break the record,” LU coach Robin Harmony said. “To have 12 is a big number, but she had a great game overall. She makes you work for 40 minutes. She is going to get that record at some point.”

LU led just 37-35 at halftime before extending the advantage to 56-47 after three quarters. LU opened the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run to erase any hopes of an upset by UIW (3-14, 2-4), which fell to 0-7 all-time against LU.

“We got off to a slow start. Well, everybody but Chas,” Harmony said. “We gave them hope, but we came out and played much better in the second half.”

Kinard finished with a game-high 23 points, 16 of those after intermission. Mathis added 16 points, while Kiandra Bowers came off the bench to contribute eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds. LU outrebounded UIW 44-36.

Imani Robinson had 16 points for UIW.

With the win, the Cardinals moved to within one game of conference-leading Stephen F. Austin in the standings.

“Our confidence is at Level 10 right now,” Barrs said. “We see an open door right now. Our main goal is to get to the

conference tournament and win a ring this year. We have the confidence we can get the job done. We just have to go out every game and do it.”

LU returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Sam Houston State in an SLC game. That contest is part of a hoops doubleheader at the Montagne Center, with the LU men facing Sam Houston State at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN3 and broadcast on KLVI-AM 560.

PROMOTIONS

Fans attending Saturday’s doubleheader will receive a free rally towel courtesy of MCT Credit Union while supplies last. All Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts attending Saturday’s twin bill will receive a free general-admission ticket if they wear their scout uniform.