LU’s Solenne Olenga, shoots a layup during the game.during the Cardinal’s 84-54 victory over New Orleans, Feb. 21, at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. UP photo by Gerrod Fuller
Six players scored in double figures as Lamar University honored its four seniors with a convincing 84-54 victory over New Orleans, Feb. 21, at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center. The 84 points are the most the Cardinals have scored this season.
Alexis Parker tallied a season-high 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double. Also with a double-double was Solenne Olenga, who scored 13 points and secured 12 rebounds, while Jacie Denley (11 points) was one rebound and three assists shy of a triple-double. T’Aaliyah Miner (12), freshman Shaila Foreman (11 points, six assists) and senior R’Mani Taylor (10) combined to score 33 points.
LU shot 49.2% from the field, including a season-high 11 three-pointers, and converted 9-of-10 from the foul line. The Cardinals dominated the paint with 38 points and 44 rebounds, while the bench combined to total 31 points. Big Red also stole the ball 13 times and dished out 22 assists.
Parker ignited an early 11-3 lead with four points. The Cardinals shot 46.7 percent from the floor and led by five after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, LU turned to the three-point shot and knocked down five from behind the arc. Miner connected on two threes, while Denley and Forman added five points to put LU up six at halftime.
LU outscored the Privateers, 49-25 in the second half. The scoring started in the third quarter when the Cardinals, who hit 11-of-17 from the field, scored 27 points to stretch their lead to 20. The guards of Denley, Taylor and Kamryn Wilson each came up with six points on 7-of-9 shooting combined.
The Cardinals added 22 points in the fourth quarter despite hitting less than 40 percent of their shots. Olenga scored nine points in the fourth quarter while Parker added five points and eight rebounds to secure her double-double. Fellow senior K.J. Walker finished off the victory with a pair of threes.
LU heads out on I-10 for its final two road games beginning Feb. 26 with a trip to Houston Christian to take on the Huskies at Sharp Gymnasium. The contest is scheduled to tip at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
LU’s Alexis Parker, above, fights for a rebound during the Cardinal’s 84-54 victory over New Orleans, Feb. 21, at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center.