Balanced Islander Offense Falls Short Against Lamar

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Despite seeing a balanced offensive effort where six players finished with six-plus points, Lamar used a second-half surge to outlast Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball 68-57 Saturday afternoon at the American Bank Center.

The Cardinals took control of a tight contest with a 12-2 run in the third period, then thwarted any comeback hopes by outscoring the home club 16-12 in the final stanza.

Lamar shot 50 percent from beyond the arc and went 12-for-13 from the free throw line in the second half to turn a halftime tie into a seven-point lead at the end of the third, an edge that held until the final whistle.

A&M-Corpus Christi clicked offensively in its return to the hardwood, with Paige Allen's 10 points pacing the squad while Alecia Westbrook and Hayle Campbell each recorded nine.

The Islanders started strong, as an initial back-and-forth battle turned into a home lead behind an Olivia Dowden jumper that signaled a 7-0 outburst that padded a 13-6 edge by the end of the first.

Lamar slowly deflated the Islanders cushion in the second, but a string of unanswered points that culminated with a Cambell trey bumped the home club back to a seven-point advantage and held the Cardinals at bay. The Islanders maintained the slight edge until a Sabria Dean triple evened it 33-all going to the break.

The Islanders would steal the advantage on three separate occasions through the opening four minutes of the second half, but an offensive swoon combined with Lamar's back-breaking run handed the visitors the lead for good in a series sweep.

Sabria Dean led the way for the Cardinals with 18 points, as Lamar saw a similar offensive balance with four players collecting double-figure totals.  

A&M-Corpus Christi stays home to host Incarnate Word Monday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. inside the American Bank Center.

Notes

• A&M-Corpus Christi clicked offensively in its return to the hardwood, with Paige Allen's 10 points pacing the squad while Alecia Westbrook and Hayle Campbell each recorded nine. Westbrook narrowly missed the double double mark with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
• Lamar forced 10 turnovers that resulted in 11 points, as the Islanders only managed two points in the category during the second half.
• The home contest signaled the Islanders' first game since a key league win over New Orleans on Jan. 20.

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