After only getting a one-game “homestand” against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the women’s basketball team returns to action a week later on the road against Lamar University after having the weekend off.
“Our off week went well,” said sophomore guard Dominique Golightly. “We had some time for recovery but most importantly we had a little extra time to prepare for Lamar.”
The Cardinals are playing a successful season, making a case for the Southland title with an 8-1 conference record, sitting just under the first place Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin.
The Wildcats aren’t far from the top spot in the conference either as the team boasts a 7-2 Southland record good enough for fourth in the standings.
Both teams have common losses coming from the talented Central Arkansas Sugar Bears. Central Arkansas found an answer defensively against each team as it defeated Lamar 51-39, and the Wildcats 63-45.
The Wildcats other loss came from SFA, which Lamar has not played yet, meaning this game could answer which team will most likely sit inside the top three spots of the standings at the conclusion of the season.
Statistically this year, Lamar has been an offensive machine leading the conference in scoring with a total of 1587 points, and an average of 79.4 a game. Junior guard Moe Kinard has been the big contributor to the Cardinals offense this year as she has averaged the third most points in the Southland at 17.9 per game, while her teammate, junior guard Chastadie Barrs has the ninth-best average with 13.o points per game.
“Our plan is to really lock down on defense and to execute on offense,” Golightly said. “Lamar is a really quick and good defensive team, but as long as we do the things we have been practicing and preparing for, I feel like it will be a good game.”
The Wildcats have also produced well on offense this season, averaging a conference third-best 73.6 points per game. The young leadership of sophomore point guard Breanna Wright and Golightly has shown throughout the season as Wright is currently averaging the team leading 13.2 points per game, While Golightly sits close behind with 12.8.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday evening. Live coverage of the game can be viewed on ESPN3.
