BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — Kamryn Wilson scored 17 points to lead Lamar to a 66-54 victory over Houston Christian in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Montagne Center. The Lady Cardinals never trailed after the first quarter, building a 31-20 halftime lead. The Huskies cut the deficit to six points in the third quarter but could not complete the comeback. Lamar shot 51% from the floor and converted 23 points off 22 Houston Christian turnovers. Kamryn McLaurin led the Huskies with 14 points. Lamar improved to 7-6 overall, while Houston Christian fell to 4-9. Attendance was 664.

BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Lamar Lady Cardinals methodically pulled away from the Houston Christian Huskies for a 66-54 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at the Montagne Center. Despite both teams committing 22 turnovers, Lamar’s superior efficiency and a standout performance from Kamryn Wilson proved decisive. The Lady Cardinals improved to 7-6 overall, while Houston Christian fell to 4-9. The most important part of the game was a decisive second-quarter stretch where Lamar’s defense completely stifled the Huskies, turning a competitive contest into a controlled lead they would never relinquish. After a first quarter that ended with Lamar leading 18-15, the Lady Cardinals held Houston Christian to just five points in the second period. The Huskies went scoreless for over six minutes, missing seven consecutive field goal attempts and committing four turnovers during the drought. Lamar capitalized, not with a sudden explosive run, but with a steady 13-2 surge that extended their lead to 31-17. The sequence was emblematic of the entire game: fueled by defensive stops and opportunistic scoring. Kamryn Wilson, who finished with a game-high 17 points, hit a critical three-pointer during the run, while the Lady Cardinals converted Houston Christian’s mistakes into points. Lamar scored 23 points off turnovers for the game, a key differential. Houston Christian’s offensive rating of 78.9 on 68 possessions underscored their difficulties. The Huskies shot just 43.9% from the floor and were hampered by a 5-point second quarter. Kamryn McLaurin led the Huskies with 14 points, and Grace Booth added 10 off the bench, but the team could not sustain any offensive rhythm against Lamar’s persistent defense. Lamar, meanwhile, operated with greater efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 94.7. They shot 51% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range. Wilson’s 17 points paced a balanced attack that saw R’Mani Taylor add 12 points and three assists, and Shaila Forman contribute 11 points. The Lady Cardinals also won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding Houston Christian and securing seven offensive rebounds to the Huskies’ five. The Huskies showed brief signs of life after halftime, cutting the deficit to single digits several times in the third quarter behind McLaurin and Booth. However, Lamar consistently answered each push. Every time Houston Christian threatened, the Lady Cardinals responded with a timely basket, often from Wilson or Taylor, to maintain a comfortable buffer. The fourth quarter followed a similar pattern, with Lamar maintaining a double-digit lead throughout. Houston Christian never got closer than nine points in the final period as Lamar closed out the game at the free-throw line. The game was a defensive contest from the start, with both teams recording 14 and 12 steals, respectively. However, Lamar’s ability to convert those defensive plays into more consistent offense was the separating factor. The Lady Cardinals’ ball movement, evidenced by 12 assists on 25 made field goals, also contrasted with Houston Christian’s more stagnant spells. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Lamar entered with a 98 percent probability to win, and they executed a game plan that justified that projection. They controlled the tempo, exploited Houston Christian’s cold spells, and leveraged their defensive intensity into a workmanlike conference victory. Lamar next hosts Incarnate Word on Saturday, looking to build momentum in Southland Conference play. Houston Christian, mired in a three-game losing streak, faces a quick turnaround with a road game at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.

Preview: Houston Christian Huskies at Lamar Lady Cardinals BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals look to get back to .500 in conference play when they host the Houston Christian Huskies in a Southland Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at the Montagne Center. Lamar (6-6) enters at an even 1-1 in league play following a 65-57 road loss at McNeese State on Saturday. The Lady Cardinals were led in that contest by Kamryn Wilson’s 18 points, but a key contributor has been forward T’Aaliyah Miner. Miner is coming off an 11-point, 8-rebound performance against McNeese and recorded a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 31. Houston Christian (4-8) seeks its first conference victory after dropping its Southland opener, 56-52, at Incarnate Word on Saturday. The Huskies have lost five of their last six games, with the lone win in that stretch a double-overtime, 77-70 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 12. The Huskies will rely on guard Kamryn McLaurin, who has been a consistent offensive threat. McLaurin scored 11 points in the loss to UIW and is averaging 14.6 points per game over her last five contests. She erupted for a season-high 29 points in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. Lamar has found success at home this season, posting a 5-1 record in Beaumont. Their only home loss came against Northwestern State on Dec. 21. Houston Christian is 2-5 in road games. Historically, Lamar has dominated the series, winning 15 of the last 16 meetings. The Lady Cardinals won both matchups last season. Following this game, Lamar will host Incarnate Word on Saturday. Houston Christian continues its road trip at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST Thursday at the Montagne Center.