NATCHITOCHES— Northwestern State women's basketball took control from the start of the game and never looked back on its way to a 78-54 Southland Conference opening win Thursday over McNeese.   
 
NW State took an early 11-2 lead in the opening quarter, but the Cowgirls pulled to within one point (15-14) behind three-pointers by Boston Berry and Azjah Reeves.
 
The Demons went on the first of many scoring runs of the game to lead 21-14 after the opening quarter then outscored McNeese 18-9 in the second quarter to lead 39-23 at the half.  NW State held its largest lead of 27 points with 7:52 left in the game.
 
NW State improved to 5-7 overall and 1-0 in the SLC.  The loss is the third straight for the Cowgirls and fifth in the last six games as they fall to 4-10 overall and 0-1 in the SLC.
 
The Demons' defense forced McNeese into 17 turnovers and a 30.4 field goal shooting percent and a 35.7 three-point field goal percent.
 
Berry led the Cowgirls in scoring (14 points) and rebounds (7).  Both are career high's for Boston.  Reeves chipped in with 13 points, two shy of tying her career high.  Helena Galunic came off the bench to score 11 points. 

McNeese's top two scorers, Emilia Tenbrock and Mireia Yespes entered the game averaging 13.5 ppg., and 11.1 ppg., were held to a combined seven points on the night.  Tenbrock scored five and Yespes scored two.
 
NW State had four players score in double figures with Sharna Ayres leading the way with 16 points including 4 of 7 from three-point range.  Jiselle Woodson and Karmelah Dean both scored 12 apiece.  Nia Hardison ended the night with 11 points.
 
McNeese will travel to Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. tilt.  The Lions dropped its SLC opener 88-78 on the road at New Orleans on Thursday.
 
 
1^st Quarter
• NW State took a quick 11-2 lead on three 3-pointers
• McNeese cut the lead to one point (15-14) on three's by Boston Berry and Azjah Reeves and a layup by Berry
• NW State outscored McNeese 6-0 in the final two minutes of the quarter
 
2^nd Quarter
• NW State outscored McNeese 18-9 in the quarter to take a 39-23 halftime lead
• NW State was 6 of 12 from three-point range in the half and shot 51.6 percent from the field
• McNeese was 9 of 29 from the field in the half for a 31.0 shooting percent
• 14 of NW State's points in the half came in paint
 
 
3^rd Quarter
• NW State opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 44-23 lead
• Azjah Reeves ended a three and a half McNeese scoring drought that started in the second quarter with a free throw
• McNeese went on an 8-1 run to cut the lead down to 18 points (52-34)
 
4^th Quarter
• Both teams scored 19 points in the quarter, but NW State held to large of a lead (24 points) for the Cowgirls to overcome
 
NOTES
• Boston Berry led the Cowgirls in scoring with a career high 14 points 
• Boston Berry also led the Cowgirls in rebounds with seven, also a cereer high
• Azjah Reeves scored 13 points and Helena Galunic added 11 points
• Clara Rosini tied her seson high with nine points
• McNeese's top two scorers (Emilia Tenbrock and Mireia Yespes) were held to a combined seven points in the game.  Tenbrock scored five and Yespes scored two.
• McNeese shot 30.4 percent from the field (17-56), 35.7 from three-point (5-14), and 78l9 percent from the free throw line (15-19)
• NW State had five players score in double figures
• NW State shot 50.0 percent from the field (32-64), 47.1 percent from three-point (8-17) and 50.0 percent from the free throw line (6-12)
NW State outrebounded McNeese 42-34
 
 
 COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thu., Jan. 4 at Northwestern State (6:30 p.m.)/ SLC OPENER
Sat., Jan. 6 at Texas A&M-Commerce (3:30 p.m.)
Thur., Jan. 11 Lamar (7 p.m.)/SLC Home Opener
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.)