BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — Lamar dominated New Orleans 84-54 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Montagne Center. The Lady Cardinals pulled away with a decisive 27-point third quarter after leading 35-29 at halftime. The Privateers could not keep pace, falling to 3-24 this season. Lamar improved to 17-9 before an announced crowd of 934. Jacei Denley led Lamar with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 21 minutes. Teammates Solenne Olenga had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Alexis Parker added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Banks scored 11 points for New Orleans. Lamar swept the season series, having also won 72-56 on Jan. 15.

BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the New Orleans Privateers and secure an 84-54 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at the Montagne Center. A crowd of 934 watched Lamar improve to 17-9 overall, while New Orleans fell to 3-24. The game was competitive through the first half, with Lamar holding a 35-29 lead at intermission. The Lady Cardinals had established control on the glass and forced numerous New Orleans turnovers but had not yet broken the game open. That changed decisively in the third quarter. Lamar outscored New Orleans 27-13 in the period, turning a six-point halftime advantage into a 20-point lead. The Lady Cardinals’ defense catalyzed the run, generating steals and converting them into easy baskets. Lamar scored 30 points off 20 New Orleans turnovers for the game, with a significant portion coming during the third-quarter blitz. The offensive efficiency gap was stark. Lamar scored 84 points on just 67 possessions, an offensive rating of 125.8. New Orleans managed 54 points on 71 possessions, a rating of 75.8. The Lady Cardinals shot 49.2% from the field (32 of 65) and 40.7% from 3-point range (11 of 27). The Privateers shot 39.6% overall (21 of 53) and were just 5 of 21 from beyond the arc. Lamar’s commanding 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds led to numerous second-chance opportunities and contributed to a 38-30 edge in points in the paint. The Lady Cardinals also shared the ball effectively, tallying 13 assists to go with 13 steals. New Orleans was led by Lauren Banks, who scored 11 points. Mikayla Johnson added nine points and five rebounds, while Hailee Brennen blocked five shots. The Lady Cardinals’ balanced attack featured several key performances. Solenne Olenga posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Alexis Parker also recorded a double-double, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds, many on the offensive end. Jacei Denley filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in just 21 minutes. Shaila Forman directed the offense with 11 points and six assists, and R’Mani Taylor chipped in 10 points and four assists. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Lamar, which defeated New Orleans 72-56 on Jan. 15. Entering the game, statistical models gave Lamar a 97.8% probability to win. Lamar next travels to face Houston Christian on Thursday. New Orleans returns home to host Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday.

Preview: New Orleans Privateers at Lamar Lady Cardinals BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals look to continue their push for postseason positioning when they host the struggling New Orleans Privateers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Montagne Center. Lamar (16-9) enters the contest having won three of its last four, most recently a 62-52 home victory over Nicholls State on Thursday. The Lady Cardinals have relied on a balanced attack and stout defense, holding opponents to an average of 58.2 points during that four-game stretch. A key contributor has been T’Aaliyah Miner, who played a season-high 34 minutes against Nicholls State, finishing with 9 points, 2 assists and 4 blocks. Her defensive presence will be central against a New Orleans team searching for consistency. The Privateers (3-23) are mired in a difficult season, having lost 18 of their last 20 games. They are coming off a 101-64 road loss to Stephen F. Austin on Thursday. Guard Hailee Brennen provided a bright spot in that defeat, scoring 15 points in just 16 minutes. Brennen has been a focal point, averaging 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds over her last seven contests. Lamar won the previous meeting this season, 72-56, in New Orleans on Jan. 15. The Lady Cardinals have dominated the recent series, winning the last eight matchups. For New Orleans, the challenge will be finding scoring beyond Brennen and slowing a Lamar team that excels at home, boasting an 11-2 record at the Montagne Center this season. The Privateers have allowed 80.1 points per game over their last seven outings. Lamar, currently in the upper half of the conference standings, can ill afford a setback against a lower-ranked opponent as the regular season winds down. New Orleans, meanwhile, seeks to build momentum and find a rare road win in the final weeks of the schedule. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Lamar travels to Houston Christian next Thursday, while New Orleans hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 26.