LAKE CHARLES—Northwestern State outscored McNeese 16-9 in the third quarter on its way to a 60-44 Southland Conference women's basketball victory Thursday night to pick up its second win over the Cowgirls this season.
 
McNeese fell to 4-16 overall and 0-7 in the SLC with the loss and the Demons improved to 8-10 overall and 4-3 in league play.
 
Mireia Yespes led the Cowgirls with 13 points and Julia Puente came off the bench to lead all players with 11 rebounds.  Yespes was 5 of 11 from the field with one 3-pointer and made 2 of 3 free throws.
 
McNeese's and the SLC's leading scorer Emilia Tenbrock, who entered the game averaging 16.0 ppg. had a cold shooting night coupled with a swarming NW State defense, was 1 of 9 from the field and ended the game with three points.
 
Northwestern State placed two players in double figures with Nia Hardison leading all players with a career high 18 points on 6 of 9 from the field including two 3-pointers and was 4 of 7 from the free throw line.  Sharna Ayres chipped in with 11 points.
 
The Demons opened the game on a 10-2 run and held a 28-21 lead at the half then led 44-30 heading into the final period.
 
NW State ended the game with a 46.2 field goal percent on 24 of 52 from the field including a 36.8 3-point field goal percent, connecting on 7 of 9 from behind the arc.
 
McNeese shot 32.1 percent from the field (17 of 53).
 
1^st Quarter
• NW State took a 10-2 lead in the first six minutes of the game
• Cowgirls trailed 18-11 after the quarter
 
2^nd Quarter
• McNeese trailed 26-17 with 4:19 left in the quarter
• Azjah Reeves' layup as time expired in the quarter cut the lead to seven (28-21) at the half
• McNeese shot 32.1 percent from the field and NW State shot 46.4 percent
• Both teams scored 10 points in the quarter
 
3^rd Quarter
• NW State opened the second half on a 6-0 run to take at 13-point lead, its largest lead of the game so far (34-21)
• NW State outscored McNeese 16-9 in the quarter to lead 44-30 and held as much as a 15-point lead with eight seconds left in the quarter
 
 4^th Quarter
• NW State held as much as a 24-point lead with 6:02 to play
• NW State shot 45.5 percent from the field in the quarter while McNeese shot 38.5 percent from the field
 
NOTES
• Mireia Yespes led McNeese in scoring with 13 points
• Julia Puente led McNeese with 11 rebounds
• McNeese trailed 28-21 at the half
• NW State outscored McNeese 19-6 in the third quarter
 
COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Sat., Jan. 27 New Orleans (1 p.m.)
Thu., Feb. 1 Texas A&M-Commerce (7 p.m.)
Sat., Feb. 3 at Southeastern (1 p.m.