Lamar Outruns Grambling State
Lamar 62, Grambling State 60
GRAMBLING, La. - Freshman Kalis Loyd scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Lamar University women's basketball team to a 62-60 non-conference victory over host Grambling State on Thursday night.
Brittney Williams had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Lamar (1-1), while Ang Green had 11 points. Trashanna Smith tied Williams for game-high rebounding honors with 10 to go along with six points.
Lamar, which fell behind 20-0 in the season opener at Minnesota, reversed fortunes against Grambling State, scoring the first nine points of the game. The Lady Cardinals, who never trailed in the contest, led by 19 points (36-17) at halftime, but Grambling State (1-1) battled back to make a game of it in the second half.
"We got a little tired in the second half, but we did what we had to do to win," Lamar coach Larry Tidwell said. "Any win on the road is a good win."
Wymeka Randle led Grambling State with 13 points.
Lamar returns to action at 2:05 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Alcorn State in the home opener at the Montagne Center. The game has been designated as Family Day, with tickets just $5 each when purchased in a quantity of three or more. Family Day tickets will also include a free hot dog and beverage.
Southern 68, Southeastern Louisiana 55
BATON ROUGE - Southeastern Louisiana senior guard Kim Edmonson had a team-high 16 points, but Southern used a 13-3 run to close out a 68-55 victory over the Lady Lions in non-conference women's basketball action Thursday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Southeastern fell to 1-2 overall with the loss. Southern (2-0) picked up its second win in as many games over a Southland Conference East Division member, scoring 25 points off 27 Lady Lion turnovers.
In addition to Edmonson's performance, Southeastern had two players fall just short of a double-double. For the second straight game, Southeastern sophomore guard Kelli Jenkins tied her career-high with 10 points and nine assists. Lady Lion senior post Zevy Ivory had eight points to go with a team-high 10 rebounds, as the Lady Lions held a 41-38 rebounding edge. Senior Quantae Thomas and junior forward Rashima Jenkins also had eight points apiece for the Lady Lions.
Southern was led by Tiffany Foster's game-high 18 points, while Freda Allen posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Jamie Floyd came off the bench with 10 points to give Southern three players in double figures. Carneta Henderson had seven assists for the Lady Jags, while Hannah Kador and Ashley Augerson finished with three steals.
Southern led 24-14 with 2:55 left in the first half. However, the Lady Lions answered with a 10-0 run. Kelli Jenkins hit two key layups and Rashima Jenkins hit a shot at the buzzer to tie the game at 24 going into the break.
One of Edmonson's four threes in the game and a layup by Kelli Jenkins gave Southeastern a 29-26 lead with 19:02 remaining in the game. However, Southern outscored the Lady Lions, 22-11, over the next 10 and a half minutes. A Foster layup put SU up, 48-40 with 8:28 left in the contest.
Southeastern battled back over the next three minutes. A trey by Edmonson cut the lead to 55-52 with 5:27 left.
Southern ratcheted up the defensive effort to squash Southeastern's comeback hopes. Southeastern was held without a field goal over the next 4:30 and Southern pushed the lead to 11 with just under a minute remaining.
Ivory cut the lead to eight with a three with 49 seconds remaining, but Southern hit five of six free throws in the final 45 seconds to ice the game.
Thursday's game was the first of three straight on the road for the Lady Lions. Southeastern will return to the court on Sunday at 1 p.m., facing Savannah State in a non-conference road contest. Sunday's game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9).