Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT — The hot shooting Cardinals of Lamar University defeated McMurry University, 100-37, on Saturday evening. The Cards shot 52 percent for the game and 58 percent in the second half extending its home court winning streak to 29 straight games.

“Our motto is to defend the nest and we know everyone wants to end the streak and we take personal pride in playing in front of our fans, friends and family,” remarked head coach Robin Harmony. “We want to continue to win at home.”

In the second quarter with 8:49 left, Moe Kinard scored her 1,000th career point. She is the 15th Cardinal to score, 1,000 points. This was the Cardinals’ first time scoring 100 points since a win on Jan. 3, 2018, an 18-game span. It was also the first time in eight games, LU kept its opponent under 50 points.

“We played a lot of players and it was nice for Moe to score her 1,000th point of her career tonight,” said Harmony. “We wanted to see what everyone was going to do, and it was important to have a great showing in front of our home crowd. We are trying to defend the nest and we had a really nice crowd and they saw we have a lot of talent.”

LU had four players score in double-figures led by 21 by Miya Crump, which is a career-high. Moe Kinard followed with 20 points. Briana Laidler recorded a team-high nine rebounds in the contest, which tied her career high.

After receiving its 2017-18 Southland Conference Championship rings, the Cards got off to a fast start as they scored 13 of the first 15 points. Moe Kinard hit a three-pointer putting the Cardinals ahead 13-2. A minute later, Chastadie Barrs extended her steals streak to 93 straight games as she forced London Weilert into a turnover. LU continued to send its lead and a three by Jadyn Pimentel put the Cards ahead 20-4, with 4:29 left in the quarter. The lead grew to as many as 15 points, but the War Hawks trimmed the lead to 12, 23-11, after the first quarter of play.

Opening the scoring for the Cards in the second quarter was Kinard. Kinard hit a layup, which was her 1,000th career college point. Lamar slowly started growing its lead over the War Hawks as they limited McMurry to eight points for the quarter. LU held McMurry scoreless for the final three minutes and 30 seconds of the second quarter. Lamar grew its lead to 29 points, 48-19, at the half after a Barrs layup.

Lamar continued keeping the War Hawks off the scoreboard as McMurry was held scoreless for the first three and a half minutes of the second half. Opening the second half, the Cards grew its lead to 42 points, 61-19, after a Miya Crump layup. LU held the War Hawks to eight points in the quarter and had a 48-point lead, 76-27 after three quarters of play.

LU grew the lead to 56 points midway through the fourth quarter after Rikiah Cowart scored a jumper in the paint. Lamar’s defense kept the pressure on the War Hawks as they held them to 29 percent shooting from the floor and into 26 turnovers for the contest. Ashlan Miles scored the final bucket of the night for the Cards and Lamar came away with a 100-37 victory.

Lamar returns to action on Monday when it hosts Louisiana College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Montagne Center.