Box Score MEMPNIS, Tenn.—McNeese women's basketball fell short in its comeback Saturday in a 69-48 loss at Memphis in what was a tale of two halves.
 
The Cowgirls (0-5) put themselves in a hole early in the game and had to play catch up the rest of the way. A poor shooting performance in the first half prevented the Cowgirls from keeping up with the Tigers in the first half. McNeese trailed 32-9 at the half but outscored the Tigers by a slim margin in the second (39-37).
 
Lizzy Ratcliff came off the bench to give the Cowgirls a spark to open the second half by scoring 12 of the Cowgirls first 16 points of the third quarter. McNeese continued to use that spark in the fourth quarter when the Cowgirls opened the quarter on an 11-3 run. McNeese outscored Memphis 23-11 in the fourth quarter but the first half deficit was just too much for the Cowgirls to overcome.
 
Ratcliff led McNeese with a career high 14 points, all coming in the second half and Maia Robinson pulled down a career high 12 rebounds. Robinson recorded eight of her 12 rebounds in the second half.
 
Jordyn Cross also came off the bench to score eight points, all coming in the second half.
 
Memphis (2-2) placed four players in double figures with Dulcy Mendjiadeu Fankam leading the way with a double double (16 pt., 15 reb.). Lanetta Williams ended the game with 13 points while Jatyjia Jones and Alana Davis pitched in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
McNeese will travel to Prairie View next Wednesday for a 2 p.m. game.
 
HEAD COACH KACIE CRYER QUOTES
"I thought we came out and had great energy on both sides. We did a good job on the defensive end where we were getting stops needed to go down and convert on the offensive end, but we really struggled putting the ball in the hole in the first half. We were executing and getting the open shots we wanted, getting the offensive rebounds to give ourselves a chance but we didn't take advantage of that early on, which allowed Memphis to break the lead open.
 
"I felt like we did a better job of putting the ball in the hole in the second half to cut into the lead which was a big positive for us moving forward and something we need to build on and keep the momentum going. I was pleased with our effort and fight. We just have to keep working daily to be consistent and put it all together."  
 
 FIRST QUARTER
McNeese opened the game by taking an early 3-0 lead off a three-pointer by Claralee Richard, but the Cowgirls went ice cold for the next eight minutes, missing their next 18 attempts.  Mychala Linzy ended the scoring drought right before the quarter ended with a layup.
Memphis 15, McNeese 5
 
SECOND QUARTER
The quarter started like the first quarter with the Cowgirls scoring first on a Maia Robinson put back to cut the lead to eight (15-7). The Cowgirls weren't able to hit their last 10 shots of the quarter while the Tigers finished the quarter scoring eight straight points.
Memphis 32, McNeese 9
 
THIRD QUARTER
Lizzy Ratcliff sparked the Cowgirls by scoring scored 12 of the Cowgirls 16 points of the quarter on three 3-pointers and three free throws after getting fouled on a three-pointer attempt. The other scoring came from three free throws by Jordyn Cross and one free throw by Linzy. Memphis 58, McNeese 25
 
FOURTH QUARTER
McNeese outscored Memphis 11-3 in the first four minutes of the quarter to cut the lead to 61-39. The Cowgirls opened the quarter on back-to-back three's by Jordyn Cross and Kyla Hamilton and another jumper by Cross. McNeese outscored Memphis 11-3 in the first five minutes of the quarter and outscored the Tigers 23-11 in the quarter.
Memphis 69, McNeese 48