MVP: Angel Hastings established herself as both a starter and reliable weapon during her sophomore season where she averaged 12.4 points per game as Lamar’s second-leading scorer. 

The Ceiling: Lamar has players who played key roles on title-winning squads, but it also will also rely on a lot of newcomers. The best this program can hope for is a top-half finish in the league, which will put it into the league tournament. Then, maybe it can get hot and make some March noise and secure a minor tournament berth.

The Floor: Last season’s version of the Cardinals struggled with its shooting and didn’t finish strong either. If the newcomers don’t fire to start the season, the Cardinals could scuffle early and miss the league tournament for the second straight campaign.

Projected Starting Five

Jadyn Pimentel
G | 5-3 | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo.

Angel Hastings
G | 5-6 | Jr. | San Antonio, Texas

Malay McQueen
G | 5-7 | So. | Arlington, Texas

Micaela Wilson
F | 6-1 | R-Jr. | Rayville, La. 

Rikiah Cowart
C | 6-2 | Sr. | Lauderhill, Fla.

Aqua Franklin
Head Coach

Impact First-Year Player: Anyssia Gibbs

Game of the Year:

 

Season Preview

The return of two play-making guards and the arrival of a lot of newcomers could serve as a change of fortunes for the Lamar Cardinals.

After capturing back-to-back Southland titles - a first for the program - the Cardinals struggled badly in 2019-2020, finishing 10-19 overall and 6-14 in the league in coach Aqua Franklin's initial season at the helm.

Lamar's tough season got tougher as it progressed. The team lost eight straight contests before defeating McNeese in its regular-season finale.

The Cardinals put up dismal shooting numbers and were outboarded by six rebounds per game. The one thing they did well was force turnovers, a holdover asset from the two title-winning campaigns.

The good news is that two talented and experienced guards - Angel Hastings and Jadyn Pimentel - will fill the slots on the perimeter.

Both can score, pass and defend.

Hastings averaged 12.4 points and added 41 assists and 53 3-pointers last go-around.

Pimentel (8.7 ppg) contributed 89 assists and 93 steals.

Those two guards have a combined five seasons of experience.

Other returners include senior Shedricka Pierson (3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), senior Rikiah Cowart (4.0,3.2 rpg), sophomore Malay McQueen (6.0 ppg) and sophomore Kayla Mitchell (3.6 ppg).

A good number of newcomers will have the luxury or the necessity of being able to contribute right away, depending on how you look at it.

"I am extremely proud of our first recruiting class," said head coach Aqua Franklin. "My staff hit the ground running this summer to identify these young ladies very quickly and did an unbelievable job recruiting them and their families to Lamar, even though we were late to the party due to the timing of us being hired.

"All four of our signees bring something different to the table that will add to the talent, depth, and character of our program."

Junior Micaela Wilson redshirted last season after transferring from Kansas. While she had marginal numbers in the Big 12, the hope is her practice time at Lamar, her new surroundings and playing in the Southland will spur her to a higher level of production.

Other highly-regarded newcomers are Anyssia Gibbs, Emma Imevbore, Sabria Dean and Bebe Galloway.

A transfer from Colling College, Gibbs averaged 11.4 points as a sophomore and brings experience to the roster.

Imevbore, an incoming freshman from London, has a history of producing big scoring games.

Dean and Galloway led their respective high school teams to successful seasons.

From Mineola, Dean averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists while earning all-state honors.

Galloway, from Galveston Ball, is a three-time district MVP who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as a senior.