WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Lamar’s home winning streak now 32 after Education Day victory

Published 4:36 pm Monday, December 17, 2018

Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT — In front of 4,213 fans, Lamar extended its home court winning streak to 32 games with a 93-37 victory over Howard Payne University on Education Day. The 32 straight wins is the second longest home court winning streak in the nation.

Chastadie Barrs recorded her fifth career triple-double in the victory. She led the Cardinals in points (20), rebounds (12), and steals (10). Moe Kinard scored 13 points and collected 10 rebounds giving LU two players with a double-double for the first time since Jan. 31.

“I’ve never seen or heard a crowd that loud at the Montagne Center,” remarked head coach Robin Harmony. “The crowd got our kids excited to play. I can’t wait to see the Montagne Center packed again.”

With an early start, both offenses came out cold as it was 2-2 after the first three minutes of action. Angel Hastings put the Cards ahead 5-2 after a three and following the three, shots started to fall for both teams.

After a free throw by Chelsey Harris put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 8-7, Lamar did not allow Howard Payne to score the remainder of the quarter. LU ended the quarter on an 11-0 run, that was started by Ashlan Miles three. After one quarter of play, LU led 18-8.

The Cards brought the defensive pressure in the second quarter as they held Howard Payne to two field goals. LU shot 39 percent in the quarter. The Cards stretched its lead to 13, 24-11, after a Barrs three. Two minutes later, the lead was up to 20, 31-11, after a Miya Crump three. Kinard hit a fast break layup to end the half and put the Cards ahead, 40-15, at halftime.

In the first 30 seconds of the second half, Barrs recorded her fifth steal of the game, which gave her 500 steals for her career. She is just the fourth person in NCAA Division I history with 500 or more steals in a career.

“It felt great to get my 500th career steal today,” Barrs stated. “I have to give my teammates credit as our defensive pressure leads to turnovers and I get my steals off their effort on the defensive end.”

Midway through the third quarter Kinard scored five straight points, putting the Cards ahead 60-17. LU forced the Yellow Jackets into nine turnovers in the third quarter and held Howard Payne to six points. LU extended its lead to 55 points, 76-21 after a Hastings three-pointer ending the third quarter.

LU led by 50 or more points for the entire fourth quarter of the contest. Leading, 78-28, Lamar went on a 15-3 run capped by a fast break layup by Jadyn Pimentel. Her layup put the Cards ahead by 62 points, 93-31. LU came away with a 93-37 victory.

The Cards return to action on Thursday when they host the University of the Pacific at 7 p.m. at the Montagne Center.