LAKE CHARLES – Victoria Rachal scored a career-high 24 points and McNeese used an 8-0 run early in the second half to down Central Arkansas 72-68 in the regular season finale here Saturday afternoon.
 
Rachal, who entered the game averaging just 3 points a game, knocked down 10 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Her back-to-back jumpers (5 straight points) midway through the first half helped rally the Cowgirls from a 13-5 deficit to a 1-point margin in 46 seconds time.
 
The sophomore from Natchitoches scored 12 points in each half and got some help from Jayln Johnson who finished with 14 points.
 
But on Senior Day, who better than senior Alaina Verdin to step up as the team's leader and ignite the Cowgirls (17-12, 11-7 SLC) to rally from a first half deficit.
 
"It was a typical senior day for her," said head coach Brooks Williams about Verdin. "She came in and really gave us the energy we needed. We stepped up our press and that helped a lot."
 
Johnson and Rachal each had 3s that gave the Cowgirls their largest lead in the first half at 6 points, and Verdin hit two free throws for the final scoring of the half to give McNeese a 35-29 lead at the break.
 
UCA (17-13, 10-8) got a basket from Brianna Mullins to start the second half and cut the margin to four points at 35-31. McNeese followed with an 8-0 run which was started by a layup from Frederica Haywood and ended with a Haywood layup to make it 43-31 with 16:03 to play.
 
Another Cowgirl spurt of 7-0 midway through the half included two more baskets by Rachal, one a three-pointer, and the Cowgirls built their largest lead at 61-45 with 8:12 to play following a Rachal three.
 
Trailing 70-58 with 3:17 to play, UCA scored eight straight and cut the lead to 70-67 with 27 seconds to play after a Kendara Watts layup. Verdin and Johnson closed out the game by hitting late free throws.
 
UCA's Maggie Proffitt led the Sugar Bears with 16 points followed by Watts with 15 while Mullins and Terai Sadler each scored 12.
 
Haywood scored 8 points and topped the team with 14 rebounds and Johnson dished out seven assists.
 
McNeese connected on 51 percent (30 of 59) from the field and hit 7 of 13 for 54 percent from long range. UCA shot 45 percent (25 of 56) for the game and was 4 of 11 for 36 percent from 3-point range.
 
UCA held a 36-32 advantage on the boards.
 
McNeese will open play at the Southland Conference Tournament next week in Katy, Texas. Day, time and opponent will be announced late Saturday.