Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES-- Time ran out on the Cowgirls here Saturday in a 43-42 loss to Texas-Arlington in Southland Conference women's basketball actione. UTA held a 42-37 lead with 2:26 left in the game on Maryann Abanobi's jumper in the paint. McNeese cut the lead to 42-40 on a three-pointer by Courtnee' Hollins with 1:40 left.

McNeese State called time with :24 seconds to set up a play but a miscommunication between Brittany Boone and Lenissa Lopez on the in-bounds pass resulted in a Cowgirl turnover that forced Boone to commit her fifth personal to avoid a UTA easy layup. The foul sent UTA's Tamara Simmons to the free throw line with :16 left in the game. Simmons missed the first of two free throws and made the second to give UTA a 43-40 lead. The Cowgirls came down the court looking to tie the game with a three-pointer but Shante' Perry's trey was just off the mark and Reeshimah Davis grabbed the offensive rebound and made a layup as time expired to end the game, giving the Maverick's the slim one point victory.

The game was a very good defensive game by both teams, the Cowgirls struggled from the field for the second game in a row. McNeese ended the game shooting 25.4 percent from the field and struggled from three-point range (6-23), something the Cowgirls have relied on all season.

"We really fought and scrapped and I thought we deserved to win this game," said head coach Brooks Donald Williams. "Texas-Arlington is a very good team and we had an incredible game plan to slow them down."

Texas-Arlington entered the game averaging 67.7 ppg. and ranked fourth in the league in scoring average. The Mavericks were held to a 35.7 shooting percent and shot 64.7 percent from the free throw line. On the other hand the Cowgirls, who lead the league with a 70.8 free throw percent connected on six of 11 for a 54.5 percent.

McNeese held a 22-21 lead at the half and held its largest lead of the game, 22-18 with 1:20 left in the first half.

"I'm proud of the way we played, but I'm not satisfied. One more big body in the paint would have helped us to limit their touches."

UTA's Tiffeny Riles controlled the defensive boards all day and ended the game with a career high 21 rebounds, 17 of which came on the defensive end.

Despite a rare poor shooting night, Courtnee' Hollins led the Cowgirls in scoring with 14 points and Boone added 12 points. Perry, who entered the game averaging 16.2 ppg. in SLC games only and had scored in double figures in six of the last seven games and eight of the last 10 was held scoreless.

"Hollins, Perry and Boone struggled on offense today. I have confidence they can make those shots, they just didn't fall for them today."

The loss drops the Cowgirls to 6-18 overall and 4-6 in the SLC while Texas-Arlington improves to 14-8 overall and 9-2 in league play.

McNeese will host Northwestern State at 7 p.m. this Thursday in the second meeting between the two teams this season. Northwestern State claimed a 90-62 win in Natchitoches on Jan. 24 in the first meeting.