Jan. 26, 2005

Lamar vs. Nicholls State Game Notes
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BEAUMONT - The Lamar women's basketball team will look to snap a four-game losing streak on Thursday night, as the Lady Cardinals hosts Nicholls State in a 7 p.m. Southland Conference game at the Montagne Center.

The Lady Cardinals carry a 7-9 overall record and a 1-4 league mark into the game, while Nicholls State totes a 3-14 overall record with a 0-6 SLC clip.

Thursday's tilt with NSU will be the 19th all-time meeting between the two schools. The Lady Cardinals are 7-11 all-time against the Lady Colonels. In last season's only meeting, NSU came away with an 87-70 victory in Thibodaux, Louisiana. LU is 7-2 at home and 0-9 on the road versus Nicholls.

The Lady Cards are hoping to rebound from a disappointing 76-61 loss at Stephen F. Austin last Saturday. Sophomore LaToya Carson led LU with 15 points and freshman Shaquita Coffey added 13 points in the losing effort.

Carson, a native of Long Beach, Mississippi, continues to lead the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and steals (24 stls.). She also ranks third in three-point shooting (40.6%) and fourth in assists (23 assts.). Carson's scoring average ranks ninth in the SLC and her rebounding is 13th. She also owns the league's fourth-best field goal percentage (47.9%) and she's 15th in the conference with a 66.1 free throw percentage.

Freshman Chelsea Gugliotta is second on the team in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and she also ranks third in scoring (7.0 ppg). Junior Audrea Samuel is second on the club with 9.8 points a game and 18 blocks.

As a team, Lamar ranks at the head of the SLC in numerous categories. LU currently tops the charts in scoring margin (+6.7), field goal percentage (.410), field goal percentage defense (.338), three-point field goal percentage defense (.243), defensive rebounds (31.0) and rebounding margin (+5.8). The Lady Cardinals are also second in scoring defense (56.9), rebounding (47.1), offensive rebounds (16.69), defensive rebounds (30.44) and blocked shots (3.88).

The Lady Cardinals have placed themselves among the nation's elite this season, ranking in the national top 10 in field goal percentage defense according to the NCAA's Jan. 24 statistical rankings. LU limits opponents to 33.8% from the floor, which is fifth in the nation. Duke is the national leader with a 31.6% clip. Texas Tech is second (32.3%), defending NCAA National Champion Connecticut is third (33.1%) and Liberty is fourth (33.4%).

NSU enters Thursday's game with a nine-game losing streak, dating back to a 68-73 setback versus Tulane on Dec. 19. In the Lady Colonels last outing on Jan. 22 the McNeese State Cowgirls knocked off NSU, 57-42.

Senior Nkechi Nwachukwu leads the team in scoring (9.4 ppg) and Jamie Octave is the team's top rebounder (5.4 rpg). Kim Kelson leads the team with a 50.0 field goal percentage (25-of-50) and an 81.8 free throw clip (18-of-22). Katherine Plummer leads the team in assists (41) and steals (30), while ranking third on the squad with 7.9 points per game.

The Lady Colonels are averaging 59.6 points a game, while allowing 66.3 points per contest to opponents. NSU is shooting 39.5% from the floor and 30.8% from three-point range. Nicholls is also shooting 70.3% from the free throw line.