HOUSTON, Tex. --- Nakeisha Brown and Lauren Angel led the Pilots with 15 points and Rezina TecleMariam added seven assists and six rebounds but the Lamar Cardinals held off the Portland Pilots for a 76-66 victory Friday night at the Sharp Gym.

 

Angel tied the game at 54 with 7:22 left in the second half but Lamar (4-1) used a 9-2 run over the ensuing two minutes and 40 seconds to build a small cushion against the Pilots (4-2). Angel and Brown hit back-to-back shots to bring the Pilots within three points but they would get no closer.

 

A three ball from Brown gave the Pilots a 25-24 lead with 4:27 left in the first half but the Lamar Cardinals stingy defense limited Portland to three free throws the rest of the half to take a 32-28 advantage into the locker room.

 

Following the break, the Pilots made four of their first five shots with Brown and senior Angel making two layups apiece to tie the game at 36.

 

The Cardinals continuously fed the ball down low to Monique Whittaker as Whittaker led all players with 26 points on 8-15 shooting. The Cardinal forward also grabbed nine rebounds, eight of them coming on the offensive end of the court.

 

Lamar made it to the charity stripe 45 times, knocking down 29 free throws. Portland was just eight of 14 from the line. Whittaker and Jenna Plumley each attempted at least 10 free throws for Lamar with Plumley hitting all 10 and Whittaker going 10 for 18.

 

Natalie Day posted 10 points and six rebounds for Portland. The Pilots hit .443 (27-61) from the floor and held the Cardinals to a .355 percentage (22-62).

 

Portland looks to snap a two-game skid as the Husky Classic continues Saturday afternoon against the Houston Baptist Huskies. The Pilots and Huskies will tip-off at 3 PM (PST) at the Sharp Gym.