LAKE CHARLES— McNeese women's basketball got off to a slow start and allowed several transition baskets in the first quarter on its way to a 103-87 home loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff Sunday afternoon in its first game back from the Christmas holiday.
The game also marked the final non-conference game before the Cowgirls begin Southland Conference play this Thursday, Jan. 4 at Northwestern State.
McNeese (4-9) will return home on Jan. 11 to host Lamar in a 7 p.m. game.
UAPB (5-8), who entered the game with wins over SMU and Arkansas, scored the first seven points of the game before
Alva Mofalk's layup put the Cowgirls on the board.
A 9-2 run by the Lady Lions gave them their first double digit lead (16-4) and one they never gave up on their way to outscoring the Cowgirls 34-12 in the first quarter and held a 59-37 halftime lead.
McNeese struggled with the UAPB inside game where they scored 56 points in the paint. When UAPB was going inside to Maya Peat who finished the game with 22 points and a game high 12 rebounds, guard Coriah Beck was draining three's to stretch the lead. Beck connected on her first eight three-pointers before missing her first one late in the third quarter. She ended the game 11 of 17 from the field including 8 of 11 three-pointers, and 2 of 6 from the free throw line for a game high 32 points.
Zaay Green, who entered the game as UAPB's leading scorer pitched in with 18 points and Jelissa Reese added 12 points.
Mireia Yespes came off the bench to lead McNeese with her second double double this season (17 points, 11 reb.). Also joining Yespes in double figure scoring was
Emilia Tenbrock (24 pts.),
Boston Berry (13 pts.), and
Azjah Reeves (12 pts.).
NOTES
• It was the Cowgirls' final non-conference game
• McNeese will open SLC play on the road at NW State on Thursday (Jan. 4) and at Texas A&M-Commerce (Jan. 6).
• McNeese narrowly outrebounded UAPB 40-39
• UAPB scored 56 points in the paint and 30 points off 28 Cowgirl turnovers
• UAPB shot at least 55% from the field in all but the fourth quarter
•
Mireia Yespes came off the bench to record her second double double (17 pts., 11 reb.) this season
•
Emilia Tenbrock led McNeese in scoring with 24 points.
•
Boston Berry dished out a season high eight assists
• McNeese ended the game shooting 46 percent from the field (29-63), 30.8 percent from 3-pt. (4-13), and 73.5 percent from the free throw line (25-34)
COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
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.)
