BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — The Lamar Lady Cardinals used a dominant second half to secure their first victory of the season, defeating the Texas-Arlington Mavericks 66-55 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Montagne Center.

In front of a crowd of 1,150, the Lady Cardinals improved to 1-3 overall, while the Mavericks fell to 2-3.

The game was a contest of runs and sloppy ball handling, with the two teams combining for 41 turnovers. Lamar capitalized on Texas-Arlington’s mistakes, scoring 25 points off turnovers compared to the Mavericks’ 15. The Lady Cardinals also showcased superior ball movement and defensive pressure, finishing with 11 assists and 11 steals.

Lamar’s Jacei Denley, a hometown player from Beaumont, led all scorers with 15 points. Shaila Forman added 13 points, and Kamryn Wilson chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. The Lady Cardinals’ depth was on display as Chisom Oguego contributed seven points and seven rebounds off the bench.

For Texas-Arlington, Nya Threatt and Kira Reynolds shouldered the offensive load. Threatt scored 13 points, while Reynolds added 12 points and six rebounds. Mila Reynolds also reached double figures with 10 points.

The first half was a tightly contested affair. Texas-Arlington held a narrow 34-26 lead at halftime, but the momentum shifted decisively after the break. Lamar outscored the Mavericks 19-10 in the third quarter to take a one-point lead and then sealed the victory with a 21-point fourth-quarter performance.

Offensive efficiency proved to be a key differentiator. Lamar scored 66 points on 67 possessions for an offensive rating of 98.8, while Texas-Arlington managed just 55 points on 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 78.7. The Mavericks struggled mightily from beyond the arc, hitting only one of their 15 three-point attempts.

Both teams shot a similar percentage from the field, but Lamar attempted and made more free throws, going 21 for 29 from the line compared to Texas-Arlington’s 18 for 23.

The win provides a positive turning point for Lamar after opening the season with three consecutive losses on the road. Texas-Arlington, which had won two straight games coming in, will look to rebound in its upcoming trip to Hawaii.