Feb. 7, 2008

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES-- When your team gets a big win, coaches are always afraid of a let down the following game and part of that is what happened here Thursday night when McNeese State fell 72-58 to Southeastern La. The Cowgirls entered the game after handing East division leaders Lamar its first SLC loss on Saturday and Southeastern La. entered the game needing a victory to snap a seven game losing streak.

"We were concerned about Southeastern La. and knew that they would be ready. They did a good job defensively on Courtnee' and she didn't have the shooting night that she has been having. It just wasn't her night," said head coach Brooks Donald Williams.

Hollins, the Cowgirls' leading scorer was held to seven points on the night, all of which came in the second half. A good defensive effort by Southeastern held Hollins intact all night. She scored her first and only three-pointer of the night for the Cowgirls' first points of the second half. Her other four points came late in the game, all on free throws. The first free throw made with 1:01 left in the game, set a single game consecutive free throw record with 23 in a row. She ended the game making four of four, extending her streak to 26 in a row.

Senior Brittany Boone opened the game with a three-point bomb to give the Cowgirls a early 3-0 lead and it looked like the Cowgirls were going to have another good shooting night but as the game went on, its was Southeastern La. who ended up with the good shooting night. Boone ended the night with a game high 24 points, making eight of 15 from the field including five three-pointers which is one shy of tying her career high.

Shante' Perry scored a quiet 13 points while guard Conceita Cutrer led the Cowgirls with six rebounds.

The Lions ended the game with six three-pointers and shot a season high 62.5 percent from the field (25-40) and 88.9 percent from the free throw line, making 16 of 18. Southeastern La. also did a good job rebounding, allowing the Cowgirls one attempt before grabbing the rebound. Southeastern La. ended the night with 33 caroms, 28 of which came on the defensive end. McNeese was held to 17 rebounds, five offensive. "Give credit to Southeastern, they came in with a game plan and executed it."

With Southeastern La. holding a two point lead with 11:42 in the first half, Boone scored six straight points to give McNeese a 18-16 lead with 9:47 left. The Cowgirls extended its lead to 22-16 at the 8:34 mark in the half on back to back layups by Perry and Cutrer. Southeastern La. cut into the Cowgirl lead but a three-point play by Perry with 7:16 left in the half gave McNeese another six point lead. Southeastern La. then outscored the Cowgirls 15-3 for the final seven minutes of the half to hold a 34-28 halftime lead. Zevy Ivory and Kristy Carlin combined for 24 of the Lions' first half points with 14 and 10, respectively. Carlin ended the game with 21 and Ivory had 18. Brooke Necaise added 13.

Hollins' three-pointer to open the second half cut the Lady Lion lead to three (34-31) and that would be as close as the Cowgirls would get in the second half.

"We didn't defend well tonight. When we defend well that helps our offense. We have to go back to boxing out, packing the paint and play team defense."

The loss drops the Cowgirls to 5-16 on the year and 3-4 in conference play while Southeastern La improved to 8-13 and 2-6 in the SLC.

McNeese will head to Thibodaux Saturday where they will face Nicholls State (5-14, 3-5 SLC) who lost 80-55 at Lamar tonight. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Stopher Gymnasium. The game can be heard live on KJEF (1290 AM) or by logging on to mcneesesports.com.