Box Score

Post-Game Interview with Mary Gleason (video)

HOUSTON – Shanice Steenholdt recorded game highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Huskies were nearly even with visiting Lamar in shot percentage and rebounds, but Houston Baptist lost to the visiting Cardinals, 73-40, Tuesday evening at Sharp Gym.

The Huskies shot 37 percent compared to Lamar's 40 percent and were two rebounds shy of Lamar's 38, but the difference in the game were turnovers, as HBU converted a season-high 30, resulting in 30 Cardinal points.

Steenholdt's 24 points were six shy of her career high and her 14 boards were one shy for Houston Baptist (0-12). She also had two assists and one block. Brittany Barton finished second with seven points, shooting 50 percent from the floor. She also had three rebounds and one assist. Maisie Elston finished with four points, four rebounds and four assists. Emily Jenkins came off the bench to block a game-high three shots, equaling Lamar's team total. She also grabbed six boards.

Four Cardinals (6-6) finished in double figures, led by Taylor Hays with 14 points. Kalis Loyd finished with 13 and tied the team high with six rebounds alongside Danielle Heithoff. Monique Whittaker came off the bench to score 12 points and Shauna Long finished with 10.

Lamar started the game hot, hitting two-straight three pointers in building a 6-0 lead less than a minute into the contest. A basket by Mary Kovtun gave the Cardinals an 8-0 lead before a Steenholdt layup put the Huskies on the board at 8-2 with 17:43 remaining in the opening half.

Lamar scored five of the game's next nine points to lead 13-6 with 12:31 remaining. The Huskies had a golden opportunity to come back and take the lead, as HBU held Lamar scoreless for four minutes, but the Huskies could not get a basket in that time, either. Lamar stopped the cold streak with five-straight points to give itself a 12-point lead, 18-6, with 8:14 left, prompting an HBU timeout.

After the timeout, the Huskies went on a 6-2 run to trail by eight, 20-12, with 6:15 left in the first half, but Lamar closed out the opening half on a 16-4 run to lead the Huskies at the break, 36-16.

Barton led the Huskies in the first 20 minutes, scoring seven points. Steenholdt was held to just four first-half points, but grabbed a half-high seven rebounds. Loyd led Lamar with eight points at the break, while Whittaker had six boards.

The Huskies scored the second half's first points on a jumper by Steenholdt, but Lamar scored five-straight points 33 seconds apart, prompting a Husky timeout. The Huskies quickly responded after the breather, with Steenholdt recording a three-point play, as the Huskies trailed the Cardinals, 41-21, with 17:09 left in the game.

Lamar then used a 14-4 run to lead, 55-25, with 12:17 left in the game. The Huskies momentarily came back with three-straight points on a free throw and a layup by Steenholdt.

The two teams traded baskets for the next three minutes, with the Huskies trailing no fewer than 28 and no more than 30. With six minutes left in the game, Lamar went on a 5-2 run to increase its lead to the largest of the game, at 35, 69-34. The Huskies brought it down to 31 on two Steenholdt free throws with 49 seconds remaining, but the Cardinals scored the game's final basket, a jumper by Francesca Bellatin, to give the visitors a 73-40 lead and the win.

HBU is now off until after Christmas, when the Huskies travel to Texas State (12/28) and UT-Arlington (12/31).