Late-game situations have often signaled trouble for the Lamar University women’s basketball team this season.
On Friday night, the Cardinals changed that trend, using a clutch fourth quarter to come away with a 63-59 win over Texas State at the Montagne Center in Beaumont.
Trailing by a basket entering the final period, Lamar’s balanced offense started to wear down Texas State. A three-point make from the top of the key by Anyssia Gibbs gave Lamar its largest lead of the game at 60-53 with 3:01 left to play.
However, the Bobcats wouldn’t go down easily, making back-to-back layups to immediately tighten the margin again.
Lamar’s leading scorer Sabria Dean didn’t make a field goal all game long, but drained two free throws with 10 seconds to put Lamar up by three points. Texas State never scored again, and the Cardinals sealed their third straight win.
“We’ve had a lot of them,” Lamar head coach Aqua Franklin said of the late-game situations. “God gives you tests until you pass them, and we finally passed one tonight.”
Early on, things were about as even as it gets. Lamar and Texas State traded baskets throughout the first quarter, with neither team leading by more than two possessions.
The Cardinals jumped out on a 7-2 run to start the game, but it was the Bobcats who led after the opening period, 16-15.
The competitive action continued into the second quarter. However, Texas State took advantage of a few whistles that went the Bobcats way, sending one of Lamar’s most productive players to the bench.
As Texas State held a slim lead midway through the second quarter, Lamar freshman forward Akasha Davis committed two offensive fouls in the span of a minute. With Davis on the bench and Lamar’s leading scorer Dean struggling from the field, the Bobcats slowly extended their advantage, and took a 35-29 lead into the halftime break.
Lamar then trailed for the entire third quarter, but stayed well within striking distance. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, guard Angel Hastings made a three-pointer that gave the Cardinals their first lead of the second half.
Gibbs scored 15 points to pace three Lamar players in double figures, including multiple baskets in the fourth quarter to help the Cardinals hold off Texas State.
“She’s been hard to take off the floor,” Franklin said of Gibbs.
Lamar (3-4) will be back at the Montagne Center next Wednesday to host Prairie View A&M.
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