LAKE CHARLES— A slow start by McNeese, a 19-0 scoring run by Lamar early in the game helped the Lady Cardinals cruise to an 82-50 Southland Conference win over the Cowgirls in its SLC home opener Thursday night.
 
The Cowgirls had no answer for Lamar's inside game as well where Akasha Davis dominated the paint.  Davis ended the game with a double double (20 points, 14 reb.) and was one of three Lady Cardinals to score in double figures.  NJ Weems scored 11 points and R'Mani Taylor chipped in with 10 points.
 
Lamar also won the rebound margin 45-29 with 19 coming on offense and 26 on the defensive end.
 
Lamar improves to 9-4 overall and is one of two undefeated teams in league play at 3-0 following tonight's games.  Southeastern, who the Cowgirls will host on Saturday, are also 3-0 in the SLC following its 61-58 home win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi earlier tonight.
 
The loss drops McNeese to 4-12 overall and 0-3 in the SLC with the loss.
 
Junior Emilia Tenbrock, who was coming off a 40-point game against Texas A&M-Commerce, led McNeese with 25 points.  Tenbrock was 4 of 12 from the field including one three-pointer and was perfect from the free throw line, making all 16 attempts.  Tenbrock was joined in double figure scoring by Mireia Yespes' 14 points.
 
The Cowgirls allowed Lamar to score 21 points off 14 turnovers, seven of the 14-game in the first quarter which also aided in the Cowgirls trailing 22-8 after the first period.
 
McNeese will remain home to host Southeastern at 1 p.m. Saturday.     
 
 1^st Quarter
• Lamar held a 22-8 first quarter lead with 10 of their 22 points coming in the paint and 12 of their 22 points coming off of seven Cowgirl turnovers. 
• McNeese was 2 of 12 from the field in the quarter
• Emilia Tenbrock scored five of the Cowgirls' eight first quarter points
 
2^nd Quarter
• McNeese ended a seven-minute scoring drought that began in the first quarter and ended with a layup by Emilia Tenbrock at the 7:57 mark of the second quarter
• Lamar outscored McNeese 26-16 in the second quarter to lead 48-24 at the half
• McNeese shot 30.4 percent (7 of 23) from the field in the first half and Lamar shot 47.2 percent (17 of 36) from the field in the half  
• Lamar outrebounded McNeese 25-12 in the half
• Tenbrock scored seven points in the quarter to lead McNeese in scoring at the half with 15 points
• Lamar's Akasha Davis had 12 points and R'Mani Taylor had 10 points at the half. Davis also grabbed nine rebounds in the first half
 
3^rd Quarter
• Lamar outscored McNeese 19-10 behind a 52.9 field goal percent while the Cowgirls shot 25.0 percent.
• Lamar held its largest lead of 35 points with 3:04 left in the quarter
 
4^th Quarter
• McNeese won this quarter by outscoring Lamar 16-15, but the game was way out of reach despite the Cowgirls winning the quarter
 
 NOTES
• Emilia Tenbrock led all players with 25 points on 4 of 12 from the field including one three-pointer.  Tenbrock was perfect from the free throw line, making all 16 attempts.
• A slow start by the Cowgirls coupled with a 19-0 Lamar run put the Cowgirls behind 48-24 at the half
• Mireia Yespes was the only other Cowgirl to score in double figures with 14 points
• Lamar placed three players in double figures with Akasha Davis leading the Cardinals with a double double (20 pts., 14 reb.).  NJ Weems added 11 points and R'Mani Taylor pitched in with 10 points.
 
COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sat., Jan. 13 Southeastern (1 p.m.)
Thu., Jan. 18 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7 p.m.)
Sat., Jan. 20 at Incarnate Word (2 p.m.)