LAKE CHARLES— McNeese women's basketball held a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Mississippi Valley State outscored the Cowgirls 24-9 in the final quarter to pick up an 85-82 win on the first day of the McNeese MTE.  
 
McNeese (1-2) for the second straight game couldn't stop the inside game, allowing the Devilettes to score 50 points in the paint, 32 bench points and 22 off second chances.   
 
Mississippi Valley State (1-2) held a slim 22-21 lead after the first quarter, but McNeese led 44-39 at the half after outscoring MVS 23-17 in the second quarter.
 
A 10-5 run by McNeese to start the second half extended the lead to 55-44 but a 15-4 run by MVS tied the game at 59 apiece with 3:30 left in the quarter.  McNeese went on 14-2 run the rest of the way to lead 73-61 after the third quarter.
 
For the second time this season, four Cowgirls scored in double figures.  Emilia Tenbrock came off the bench to lead all players with a career high 26 points on 8 of 11 from the field including 4 of 4 free throws.  Azjah Reeves and Anna Cabañas both chipped in with 13 apiece.  The 13 points by Cabañas is her career high.  Boston Berry added a career high 12 points.  Reeves led the Cowgirls in rebounds with six.
 
The Cowgirls ended the game shooting 41.5 percent (27-65) from the field, 30.8 percent (8-26) from three-point range, and 83.3 percent (20-24) from the free throw line.  MVS outrebounded McNeese 42-37 and both teams turned the ball over 21 times apiece.  
 
MVS was led in scoring by Amberly Brown's 23 points.  Sh'Diamond McKnight's recorded a double double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Syann Holmes added 10 points in the win.
 
Day 2 of the MTE on Friday will have Mississippi Valley State facing UL-Monroe at 4 p.m. with the Cowgirls taking on Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7 p.m.
 
Saturday's schedule has Wisconsin-Milwaukee facing Mississippi Valley State at 1 p.m. and McNeese and UL-Monroe will close out the MTE with a 4 p.m. game.
 
 
McNeese Notes
• McNeese placed four players in double figure scoring for the second time this season
• Emilia Tenbrock came off the bench to lead McNeese with a career high 26 points
• Azjah Reeves and Ana Cabañas both scored 13 points.  The 13 points by Cabañas is her career high
• Boston Berry scored a career high 12 points
• Reeves led McNeese with six rebounds