Lamar sports information

THIBODAUX, La. – Moe Kinard poured in 28 points to lead the Lamar Cardinals to their fourth straight win, a 76-61 victory over the host Nicholls Colonels in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday evening.

Kinard was one of three scorers in double figures for the Cardinals (12-6 overall, 7-1 Southland), who won for the first time at Nicholls since Feb. 12, 2011.

“It’s hard to get a road win in our conference, and they have definitely had our number here,” LU coach Robin Harmony said. “Our kids played hard and didn’t lose their composure. That’s why we got out of here with a W.”

The Cardinals played most of the first half without starting point guard Chastadie Barrs, who went to the bench with two fouls in the first three minutes of the contest. LU trailed 13-10 after one quarter and held a narrow 31-30 lead at intermission. DeA’ngela Mathis had 13 points for LU in the first half, while Kinard had 10. Freshman Jadyn Pimentel took over the point guard duties for the rest of the half and had five assists over the first 20 minutes.

“Jadyn did a good job when Chas went out,” Harmony said. In the past, we have struggled when our point guard was out, but that wasn’t the case today.”

The Cardinals increased their lead to 51-43 after three quarters before Kinard took over in the fourth quarter to make sure the Colonels (8-11, 3-5) would not make a comeback. Kinard drained four three-pointers in the final quarter as the Cardinals outscored their hosts 25-18 over the final 10 minutes.

“Each of Moe’s three-pointers was a big-time dagger,” Harmony said. “It gave us the room we needed.”

Mathis finished with 19 points for LU, while Barrs had 10 points. Barrs had five assists and five steals. The two-time Southland Conference defensive player of the year, who leads the nation in steals has at least one steal in all 79 games in her career.

Kiandra Bowers had nine points, 10 rebounds and a season-best six steals. Bowers is the sixth player in program history to reach the 800-rebound mark for her career. Pimentel matched her career high with eight assists, while committing just one turnover in 30 minutes. She also added six points.

The Cardinals had 19 steals as Nicholls committed 25 turnovers to LU’s 10. LU had a 28-11 advantage in points off turnovers.

Nicholls (8-11, 3-5) had four players score in double figures, led by Tia Charles with 15 points. Cassidy Barrios had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Colonels.

LU returns home to open a four-game homestand, its longest of the season, at 2 p.m. Saturday when archrival McNeese comes to the Montagne Center. That is the opening game of a hoops doubleheader that sees the men’s game between LU and McNeese tipping off at 4:30 p.m. Other games on the homestand are 7 p.m. Wednesday against Abilene Christian, 2 p.m. Feb. 3 vs. Stephen F. Austin and 7 p.m. Feb. 7 against Northwestern State.

The Cardinals have won 22 straight home games dating back to the start of last season.

“It will be nice to be on our home court and in front of our fans,” Harmony said. “McNeese will be a tough game, but our fans are definitely a factor.”

PROMOTIONS

Saturday is Campers Reunion Day, with all youths who attended one of LU’s basketball camps this past summer receiving a free general admission ticket when they wear their camp T-shirt to the game. In addition, Saturday is LU Alumni Reunion Day.