LAKE CHARLES— McNeese women's basketball suffered an 88-64 home loss Saturday against Tarleton State in its final game before the Christmas break, dropping the Cowgirls to 4-8 on the season.
Emilia Tenbrock was the only Cowgirl that scored in double figures with 22 points, connecting on 7 of 13 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line.
Tarleton State (3-6) had two players score in double figures with Jakoriah Long ending the game with a career high 34 points. Long was 11 of 13 from the field including 3 of 4 from three-point range and was nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 9 of 10 attempts.
Lexi Bull came off the bench to record her first career double double with a career high 11 points and a career high 15 rebounds.
McNeese got off to a slow start offensively by turning the ball over on its first five possessions but managed to even the score at 15 at the end of the first quarter.
Tarleton outscored McNeese 7-0 to open the second quarter and held a 44-32 halftime lead. McNeese was able to cut the lead to single digits (51-42) early in the third quarter on a
Cristina Gil layup and again with 4:52 left in the quarter on two free throws by Tenbrock.
Tarleton pushed the lead back to double figures following Tenbrock's two free throws and never gave up its double-digit lead, extending it to 22 points midway through the fourth before going on to claim its third win of the season.
McNeese ended the game with 16 turnovers and Tarleton State scored 17 points off those turnovers while also picking up 15 second chance points. McNeese narrowly outrebounded the Texans 34-33 and scored 28 points in the paint.
McNeese will break for the Christmas Holiday and will return on Sunday, Dec. 31 to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
McNEESE NOTES
• It was the Cowgirls' final game before the Christmas break
•
Emilia Tenbrock was the only Cowgirl to score in double figures, ending the game with 22 points
• McNeese outrebounded Tarleton 34-33
• McNeese turned the ball over on its first five possessions of the game and ended the game with 16 miscues
• The Cowgirls cut the double figure lead to single digits for the last time with 4:52 left in the third quarter
• McNeese won the third quarter by outscoring Tarleton 20-19
COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sun., Dec. 31 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1 p.m.)
Thu., Jan. 4 at Northwestern State (6:30 p.m.)/ SLC OPENER
Jan. 6 at Texas A&M-Commerce (3:30 p.m.)
Jan. 11 Lamar (7 p.m.)
Jan. 13 Southeastern (1 p.m.)
