LAKE CHARLES--- Stephanie Guihon scored a career high 17 points here Wednesday night in a 76-66 McNeese women's basketball (3-6) victory over Louisiana-Monroe (3-6) in the Cowgirls' final home game of the year.  Guihon was one of three Cowgirls to score in double figures on the night.
 
"It's a rival game, we knew it was going to be a tough game," said head coach Lynn Kennedy.  "I thought we did a great job establishing the lead in the second quarter and we knew they were going to make a run but for us to keep our composure and to execute at the end was good to see."
 
Guihon and Le'Shenae Stubblefield both responded when the Warhawks made their scoring runs with both players responding with either a big shot or a three-point play.
 
Both players ended the game connecting on 5 of 7 shots from the field with Stubblefield making two of her three point attempts and Guihon knocking down the only one she took on the night.
 
Zuzanna Kulinska chipped in with 10 points while Desirae Hansen led McNeese with eight rebounds.
 
After a first quarter that was tied at 18 apiece, McNeese outscored ULM 23-10 in the second quarter including a 15-0 scoring run that increased the McNeese lead to 36-22 and a 41-28 Cowgirl halftime lead.
 
ULM got as close at three points (60-57) midway in the fourth quarter on a Kierra Brimzy layup but an 11-4 Cowgirl run with seven of those points coming from Stubblefield pushed the lead back to 10 points (71-61) with 1:41 to play.  Guihon and Stubblefield would then seal the game with Guihon scoring three points from the free throw line and Stubblefield picking up an offensive rebound and making a jumper with two seconds left in the game.  
 
McNeese will travel to Ole Miss Saturday before traveling to Texas Tech next Monday before breaking for Christmas.
 
 
FIRST QUARTER
ULM jumped out to a 7-2 lead before the Cowgirls cut the lead to two points (11-9) midway through the quarter.  The Warhawks started the game making four of their first five shots while the Cowgirls turned the ball over on their first two possessions.  Zuzanna Kulinska gave McNeese its first lead of the game on a three-pointer at the 4:23 mark.  The lead changed a few more times but the quarter ended with the game tied at 18. 
 
SECOND QUARTER
McNeese took its largest lead of the game 27-22 early in the quarter following a banked in three-pointer from Kaili Chamberlin and then an old fashion three-point play by Stephanie Guihon.  With the Cowgirls trailing 22-21, the Cowgirls put together a 15-0 run to take a 36-22 lead with four minutes left in the quarter.  McNeese held a 41-28 halftime lead.
 
THIRD QUARTER
ULM opened the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to eight (43-35). ULM cut the lead to five points but six straight points by the Cowgirls increased the lead to 53-42.  ULM outscored the Cowgirls 22-16 but McNeese held a 57-50 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
ULM got as close as three points (60-57) with 5:53 to play but an 11-4 Cowgirl run pushed the lead back to double digits with 1:41 left to play. Stubblefield scored seven of those 11 points including a steal and three-point play that gave McNeese a 71-63 lead.  Guihon's three free throws in the last 27 seconds sealed the win.
 
 
McNEESE NOTES
• Stephanie Guihon scored a career high 17 points to lead all players in scoring
• Le'Shenae Stubblefield scored a season high 16 points
• Zuzanna Kulinska was the only other Cowgirl to score in double figures with 10 points
• shot 47.1 percent from the field in the first quarter (8 of 17)
• went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter to take a 36-22 lead with four minutes left in the quarter
• outscored ULM 23-10 in the second quarter to lead 41-28 at the half
• shot 42.9 percent from the field in the second quarter and 45.2 from the field including 54.5 percent (6 for 11) from three-point range.
• ULM opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to eight points (43-35)
• ULM got as close as three points  (60-57)midway through the fourth quarter
• McNeese then went on an 11-4 run with Stubblefield scoring seven of the 11 points to put the lead back to double figures.
• Guihon's two free throws with 15 seconds left sealed the win