Feb. 28, 2008

Final Stats

LAKE CHARLES-- McNeese State's women's basketball team picked up a huge Southland Conference win here Thursday night with a 52-49 upset victory over Texas-San Antonio to improve to 8-19 overall and 6-7 in Southland Conference play. UTSA entered the game in second place in the West Division behind Texas State.

"We played hard tonight. I walked in the locker room and wrote DEFENSE on the board because that is what won this game for us tonight," said head coach Brooks Donald Williams. "For us to upset UTSA is huge for us in many ways and I am so proud of them."

The Cowgirls forced 17 UTSA turnovers and 36.5 field goal shooting percent. The Roadrunners came into the game shooting 40.8 percent from the field.

The Roadrunners went into the locker room with a 25-21 halftime lead and held the lead up until four minutes remaining in the game.

Trailing 42-43, Courtnee' Hollins' old fashion three-point play at the four minute mark gave McNeese State a 45-43 lead. McNeese extended its lead to 47-43 on a Shante' Perry layup with 2:31 left. UTSA cut the lead to one with 1:42 on two free throws by Whitney York. A big three-pointer by Perry gave the Cowgirls a 50-46 lead with 1:19 remaining. Amanda Foster's layup cut the Cowgirl lead to 50-48 and another free throw by York cut the Cowgirl lead to 50-49 with :19 left. York's fourth personal foul sent senior point guard Lenissa Lopez to the free throw line with :14 left. Lopez calmly sank both free throws to give the Cowgirls the 52-49 lead. UTSA's final attempt at the buzzer fell short, giving the Cowgirls the victory.

Despite struggling from the field, the Cowgirls used a tough defensive effort to pull out the upset victory. The Cowgirls had three players score in double figures with Hollins and Perry both leading the Cowgirls with 13 apiece. Boone, who fouled out with 2:13 left in the game scored 10. Senior Reeshimah Davis led the Cowgirls with nine rebounds.

"This wasn't one of Courtnee's better games but she fought through alot tonight and didn't let her shooting distract her." Hollins was four of 13 from the field and a rare 0 for 3 from three-point land. Hollins scored five points on five free throws.

Boone was four of eight from the field including two three's and grabbed seven rebounds. "Boone continues to rebound for us when she isn't having a good shooting night and that is big."

Perry was five of 14 from the field with one three-pointer which was one of two made by the Cowgirls in the second half. That three-pointer came at a critical time in the game when the Cowgirls were only up 47-46 with 1:42 left in the game.

"I'm very proud of the way Shante' responded after I pulled her to the side during the game for a little pep talk. Davis and Kara Johnson also fought hard on the boards. Davis came up with the some big rebounds."

McNeese's bench outscored UTSA 15-2.

The Cowgirls host Lamar at 4 p.m. Saturday in a doubleheader. The Lady Cardinals fell 69-67 in overtime to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Beaumont tonight to fall to 14-12 overall and 7-6 in the SLC.