Box Score NEW ORLEANS – McNeese scored the final five points of the second quarter and held a 38-32 halftime lead over New Orleans, but the Cowgirls managed to make just 3 of 26 shots in the second half as the Privateers were able to pull out a 65-59 Southland Conference win here Saturday afternoon.
 
The loss was the second straight suffered by the Cowgirls as they fall to 9-15 overall and 6-7 in league play. UNO won for the second consecutive time and improved to 6-16 and 5-8.
 
The two teams will play in Lake Charles on March 1 to close out the regular season.
 
The Cowgirls seemed in control in the first half despite never leading by more than six points. But they connected on 58 percent (18-31) of their shots through the first two periods and led by six at the half even without going to the free throw line one time.
 
Devine Tanks, who led the Cowgirls with 18 points for the game, scored 16 of those in the first half as she dominated the inside game. However Tanks missed most of the third quarter with what appeared to be an injury suffered at the end of the second quarter, and UNO was able to take advantage of her absence.
 
She was held without a field goal in the second half while scoring her two points from the free throw line with 2:13 to play.
 
The Cowgirls stayed in the game by forcing the Privateers into turnovers and missed shots but McNeese missed eight free throws in the second half, six of them in the fourth quarter, that could have changed the outcome.
 
And still, trailing 61-59 after Desirae Hansen made two free throws with 34 seconds to play, McNeese let a golden opportunity slide by when Cristina Gil stole an inbound pass and missed a one-on-one layup with 29 seconds to play. UNO made four of its final six free throws to seal the win.
 
Hansen finished with 15 points while Alicja Falkowska recorded career-highs with nine rebounds and six blocked shots.
 
DeArica Pryor led the Privateers with 17 points.