LAKE CHARLES—Two free throws by senior point guard Jayln Johnson with 14 seconds remaining was the difference in a McNeese women's basketball 70-69 win over Loyola-New Orleans on Wednesday. The win keeps the Cowgirls undefeated at home this season at 5-0 and improve to 6-2 overall.
 
For the second time in three games, sophomore Jasmyn Carswell produced a double double by scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Carswell was 6 of 10 from the floor, most of her points coming from just inside the free throw line. Johnson ended the game with 17 points and was perfect from the free throw line, making all six. Junior Amber Donnes chipped in 10 points and Victoria Rachal dished out a season high four assists. Freshman Cynthia Rivas who came in to replace Frederica Haywood who was in foul trouble all night, grabbed a season high eight rebounds, seven coming on the defensive end.
 
McNeese held a 19-16 first quarter lead and held the lead until 2:27 left in the second quarter when Meghan Temple gave the Wolf Pack a 33-32 lead. Loyola outscored McNeese 8-0 in the final four minutes of the second quarter to lead 37-32 at the half.
 
For the first minute and a half of the third quarter the teams traded baskets before McNeese went on a 6-0 run and tied the game at 41 all on a Dede Sheppard jumper. The lead didn't last long as Loyola drained a three on their next possession. Trailing 46-45, Rachal knocked down her only trey of the game to give McNeese a 48-46 lead and one they wouldn't give up.
 
The final period looked more like a three-point competition as both team made three apiece. Johnson opened the final quarter with a three-pointer to give McNeese its largest lead of the game 60-53 but Loyola cut the lead down to four with a three of there own on the next possession. McNeese responded with another three, this time by Hannah Cupit for a 63-56 Cowgirl lead. Another trey by Johnson gave McNeese a 66-61 lead with 4:33 to play but Zoie Miller's only 3-pointer brought Loyola to within two points (66-64). A Carswell jumper in the lane would give McNeese a little cushion only to see Loyola score the next three points to cut the Cowgirl lead to one (68-67) with less than a minute to play.
 
With 14 seconds to play and leading by one point, Johnson was fouled and sent to the free throw line. She made both for a 70-67 McNeese lead. Loyola's Brian Oglesby's three-pointer fell short and Temple got the offensive rebound and scored as time expired.
 
McNeese will travel to no. 4 Baylor on Sunday, Dec. 13 for a 2 p.m. game. The Cowgirls will return home next Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. game against Louisiana-Monroe. The game is the first of a doubleheader with the Cowboys who will take on LSU-Alexandria at 7:30 p.m.