The Lamar Cardinals fell short in a fiercely contested match against Portland, losing 78-68 in the WNIT second round. Shaila Forman led the Cardinals with 16 points, while Jacei Denley had a stellar game, scoring 14 points and hitting four three-pointers. Despite missing key shots early, the Cardinals rallied, even claiming a brief lead, but ultimately could not overcome a strong finish from Portland. The loss concluded a successful season for the Cardinals, marking their fourth consecutive season with 20 wins.

By the Numbers
  • Shaila Forman scored 16 points, leading the Cardinals.
  • Jacei Denley scored 14 points, going 4-for-4 from three-point range.
State of Play
  • The Cardinals finished the season with a 20-11 record.
  • LU has achieved four consecutive 20-win seasons, the best in program history.
What's Next

As the Cardinals look ahead, head coach Aqua Franklin is poised to chase an important milestone, needing just nine more wins to become the program's all-time wins leader in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Bottom Line

The Lamar Cardinals demonstrated grit and resilience in their season finale, and the momentum from this success sets the stage for potential achievements in the next season, underscoring their growth as a competitive program.