NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals used a decisive third quarter to defeat the New Orleans Privateers 72-56 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. Lamar, which led 31-26 at halftime, outscored New Orleans 20-8 in the third period to secure the victory. Shaila Forman led all scorers with 18 points for the Lady Cardinals. Jayla Kimbrough scored 14 for the Privateers. Lamar forced 25 turnovers, converting them into 12 steals, while New Orleans struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 14 three-point attempts. Lamar improved to 9-6. New Orleans fell to 1-15.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals used a dominant third-quarter surge and a game-high 18 points from Shaila Forman to pull away from the New Orleans Privateers for a 72-56 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. Lamar improved to 9-6 overall, while New Orleans fell to 1-15. The game’s decisive stretch came immediately after halftime. Leading by just five points, Lamar opened the third quarter with a 14-2 run, holding New Orleans to a single field goal over the first six and a half minutes of the period. The Lady Cardinals’ defense forced eight Privateers turnovers in the quarter, converting them into easy transition opportunities. Lamar outscored New Orleans 20-8 in the third, turning a competitive contest into a comfortable 51-34 lead heading into the final frame. Forman, a guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was instrumental in the breakaway, scoring 10 of her points in the third quarter. She finished the night shooting 8 for 17 from the field in 28 minutes of action. She was supported by Jacei Denley, who added 11 points off the bench, and Kamryn Wilson, who chipped in 10 points and three assists. New Orleans was led by Jayla Kimbrough’s 14 points and two blocks. Shanihya Brown contributed nine points and two assists, but also committed 10 of the Privateers’ 25 turnovers in the game. Lamar’s aggressive defense recorded 12 steals, doubling New Orleans’ total. The first half was a sloppy affair defined by turnovers and missed opportunities. Both teams combined for 27 giveaways before the break. Lamar struggled to find an early rhythm, but managed to build a 31-26 halftime advantage behind a balanced scoring effort. Statistical disparities told the story of Lamar’s control. The Lady Cardinals attempted 16 more field goals than the Privateers, a direct result of their plus-10 turnover margin and 12 offensive rebounds. New Orleans’ shooting woes were particularly acute from beyond the arc, where they finished 1 for 14. Lamar shot 38.8 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-point range. Lamar’s ball movement, evidenced by a 12-6 advantage in assists, and their ability to generate extra possessions proved too much for a New Orleans team that has now lost 15 of its first 16 games. R’Mani Taylor facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists for the Lady Cardinals. The Privateers showed a brief spark in the fourth quarter, outscoring Lamar 22-21 behind 10 points from Kimbrough, but the deficit built during the third-quarter collapse was too large to overcome. Lamar will look to build on the road win when they travel to face Nicholls State on Saturday. New Orleans will remain at home to host Stephen F. Austin on Saturday.

NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals, riding a two-game winning streak, will look to continue their momentum against a struggling New Orleans Privateers squad in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup Thursday night at Kiefer Lakefront Arena. Lamar (8-6) enters the contest fresh off a 78-62 victory over Incarnate Word on Saturday, where Kamryn Wilson led the way with 23 points. Wilson has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 14.2 points over her last six games, including a 23-point performance on Jan. 10 and an 18-point effort at McNeese State on Jan. 3. The Lady Cardinals have won four of their last six. Conversely, New Orleans (1-14) has found wins scarce, with its lone victory a 64-63 nail-biter at Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 8. The Privateers are coming off a 79-64 home loss to Nicholls State. Lauren Banks, who posted 15 points and seven rebounds in that game, will be a key player for the home team. Banks averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds over her last five outings. The matchup presents a stark contrast in season trajectories. Lamar has shown a balanced attack, with T’Aaliyah Miner adding 16 points and R’Mani Taylor dishing out six assists in the win over Incarnate Word. New Orleans has struggled defensively, allowing an average of 78.6 points per game during its current 1-5 stretch. Thursday’s game tips off at 7 p.m. CST. Lamar will travel to face Nicholls State on Saturday, while New Orleans will host Stephen F. Austin the same day.