Box Score
PINEVILLE, La. – In an athletic world far too often lacking in sportsmanship, the East Texas Baptist women proved themselves to be class acts in the pregame of a contest they eventually lost 91-65 to Louisiana College.
Prior to the opening tip, the Tigers presented each member of the LC women's basketball team a gray t-shirt the front of which was adorned with the word “Remember” in blue letters with orange outline, the school colors of LC.
On the back, in the same style as the front, was the number 42, the jersey worn by Janice Joseph-Richard, the Lady Cats' late coach who passed away late last year after a long battle with breast cancer.
It was the first time that ETBU and LC had met since the coach's passing.
“We found out about (Richard's passing) on the road and wanted to do something,” ETBU coach Lane Lloyd said. “Janice had an amazing personality and had a huge impact on our girls. We talk to these kids about living a life of significance. We thought this was a way to do so in respects to Coach Richard.”
It was a gesture much appreciated by the LC women's basketball family.
“It was very special to our girls,” LC coach Jason Tinsley said. “We appreciated the thought of another school doing something like that.
The game itself was all Louisiana College as the Lady Cats improved to 12-1 overall and 8-1 in American Southwest Conference play with a win in their ASC East Division opener.
In a game that was tied 33-33 at intermission, LC outscored ETBU 58-32 in the second half to secure the win.
Five days after suffering their first loss of the season, a 65-60 defeat at the hands of McMurry on Saturday, the Lady Cats scored 28 points off of turnovers and had 29 second-chance points.
Five Lady Cats hit double-figure scoring with Kayla Guidry leading the way with 20.
Roslyn Wilmer put of 19, Natosha Gottlieb 12, Janet Butler 11 and Briana Lewis 10 in the game.
All-American Tillisha Givens put up nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the contest.
ETBU, which fell to 4-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play, had two players reach double figures, Emily Leek-Roberson with 19 and Brandace Latin with 16.
LC returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. with a home game against the University of the Ozarks, another ASC East contest.
