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KATY, Texas—First year head women's basketball coach Kacie Cryer picked up her first Southland Conference Tournament win as she guided No. 6 seed McNeese to a commanding 79-58 win over No. 7 seed Nicholls here Thursday afternoon to advance to the second round. McNeese will play No.  3 seed Stephen F. Austin at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
 
"I'm really proud of the effort and energy we brought today," said head coach Kacie Cryer. "We came focused and played with a lot of passion and that is something we talked about. These kids knew what they needed to do if they wanted to continue to play. I told them that if we play our best basketball, we would have a really good opportunity. Today, we looked like the best we have looked in a long time and I couldn't be more proud of this group," Cryer said.
 
The game can be seen on ESPN3 and heard on the McNeese Radio Network, KLCL (1470/1290 AM). Live stats will be available as well. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (14-16) got of to a slow start but kicked into another gear with the game tied a 13 all with 2:11 left in the first quarter. That's when junior Frederica Haywood took command then was joined by junior Mercedes Rogers as both players ended the game with double-doubles. The Cowgirls' starting five all scored in double figures and the Cowgirls beat Nicholls in almost every statistical category.
 
Haywood ended the game with 14 points and tied her season high with 19 rebounds. Amber Donnes scored 13 points, Rogers scored 12 and grabbed 11 rebounds and Victoria Rachal and Caitlin Davis both chipped in with 10 points apiece.
 
After a layup by Dede Sheppard gave McNeese a 15-13 lead, Haywood scored the next four Cowgirl points to give McNeese a 19-15 first quarter lead.
 
McNeese continued its 16-2 run in the second quarter to take a double figure lead and one they never gave up. During the run and 16 minutes into the game, Haywood picked up her 10^th double double of the season. At this point in the game, she had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
It wasn't just the Cowgirl offense that had a good day, the defense held the Colonels to 29 percent shooting from the field and McNeese outrebounded the Nicholls 61-23 with 38 rebounds coming on defense. McNeese scored 19, second chance points and over half of their points (46) in the paint.
 
The six points allowed by McNeese in the second quarter is the least amount of points allowed this season. The Cowgirls had previously allowed both Louisiana College and Sam Houston State to seven, second quarter points.  
 
McNeese held a 35-21 halftime lead and took its first 20-point lead on a three-point by Rachal in the third quarter. The Colonels attempted to press but McNeese found its way out of it and sometimes had easy layups as the result.
 
Coach Cryer had the luxury of taking her starters out for the final six minutes of the game but the subs managed to give McNeese its largest lead of the game of 24 points with 3:20 left to play.