LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Lamar University women’s basketball team defeated McNeese State, 68-52, Jan. 18, at the Legacy Center, in Lake Charles, La.
Senior forward Akasha Davis and junior guard R’Mani Taylor each scored 20 points leading the Lady Cards to their seventh-straight Southland Conference win.
The Lady Cards were dominant under the basket outsourcing McNeese 36-18 in the paint. Davis was one rebound shy of a double-double and went 9-15 from the field. Davis becomes the sixth Cardinal to record 1,500 points, joining her teammate Sabria Dean.
“We want to be physical, we want to be aggressive,” Lamar head coach Aqua Franklin said. “If the official is going to let us play, then we got to learn to play through contact and finish strong. We've practiced and worked for this time for games like this. And I thought our players did a really good job of being aggressive and attacking.”
LU forced 22 Cowgirl turnovers, converting them into 23 points. The Lady Cards led the game in second-chance points with 12 compared to the Cowgirl’s five.
Taylor made her first appearance in the starting lineup and shot 8-of-14 from the field while also passing out a team-high eight assists and recording two steals.
“I thought Armani Taylor was really huge in the win,” Franklin said. “She was really efficient, both offensively and defensively. Defensively she stepped up, guarded really well, as we entered her into the starting lineup in this game.”
LU guard Jacei Denley also scored in double figures with 10 points and added two steals.
The victory marked Coach Franklin’s 90th win as head coach for the Lady Cardinals. It also marked the 16th-straight win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Cardinals are now 12-4 overall and 7-0 in conference play where they sit in second place, just one game behind first place.
LU return home where they will face Northwestern State University, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at Montagne Center.
