Jan. 5, 2007

BEAUMONT - With the non-conference portion of the 2006-07 schedule under their belts, the Lamar University women's basketball team will now turn its focus to Southland Conference play, beginning with the UT-San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday night at 7:00.

The Lady Cardinals and the Roadrunners of UT-San Antonio meet Saturday night, in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. UTSA enters the game with a 4-8 record, while Lamar comes in at 5-8 on the year.

Lamar enters the game with a 5-8 record, after their 56-43 win over the Great Danes of Albany on Saturday night. The win was the second straight for Lamar, who knocked off Chicago State on Thursday night 61-56.

The Lady Cardinals are led by senior LaToya Carson who is averaging 14.3 points per game, while senior Dionne Pounds is averaging 12.4 points in five games played. Freshman Brittney Williams is averaging 11.8 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per game, while junior Shaquita Coffey and senior Alexis Timpone have also been solid performers for the LU offense, scoring 7.6 and 7.3 points per game respectively.

As a team the Lady Cards are averaging 58.3 points per contest, while shooting .387 from the field. Lamar is shooting at a .319 average from behind the three point arc, and is shooting .680 from the free throw line. They have also been out rebounded by their opponents, 39.1 to 36.7.

Winners of their last three games, the Roadrunners enter Saturday's game with a 4-8 with wins over UNLV, Memphis and Kent State. San Antonio returned from Christmas with an 85-73 win over Memphis followed by a 69-62 win over Kent State. Before the break the Roadrunners lost to Purdue 75-50 but bounced back with a 70-62 win at UNLV the next night.

UTSA is led by one of the top performers in the Southland Conference, Vivian Ewalefo, who is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Monica Gibbs and Terrie Davis are also contributing double digit scoring for UTSA, with Gibbs scoring 11.8 points and grabbing seven rebounds per game, while Davis is averaging 10.8 points per contest.

As a team the Roadrunners have been out scored 69.6 to 61.6 and out rebounded 39.8 to 34.2 while shooting .388 from the field. UTSA shoots .314 from three point land and .771 from the free throw line.

After Saturday's game the Lady Cardinals will be back in action on Thursday, January 11, when they take to the road for a 7 p.m. showdown against the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.