Lamar signs five women’s basketball players

First-year Lamar University women’s basketball coach Robin Harmony announced that five student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to attend Lamar and play basketball this upcoming season.

Joining the Lady Cardinals are guards Joann Lira (Clear Springs, Texas), Kensha’dra Smith (Palm Beach, Fla.) and Bethany Cox (Norman, Okla.) along with forwards Kiandra Bowers (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Micarah Malone (Houston, Texas). All five will be freshmen at Lamar this year.

“We’re hoping this young class will help us build for the future,” Harmony said. “We have to rely on them to provide valuable minutes this season.”

The 5-foot-10 Bowers played at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., helping the Panthers post a 23-6 record as a senior, advancing to the state semifinals. She averaged 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game as a senior.

Malone, the tallest recruit at 6-0, earned first-team all-district honors for St. Pius X High School in Houston after averaging 12.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game, leading the Panthers in each category.

Lira, who is 5-6, helped lead Clear Spring High School to a 38-3 record and a berth in the state semifinals. A first-team all-district selection, she averaged 8.2 points, 3.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds.

Smith, who is 5-7, averaged 14.0 points per game as a senior at Palm Beach Central High School, earning second-team All-Palm Beach County honors.

Cox was an all-state selection as a senior at Norman High School, averaging 11.0 points per game.

Lamar was 22-11 last season, advancing to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational.