NEW ORLEANS—  McNeese women's basketball fell 67-64 at New Orleans Wednesday night in its season finale to end the 2023-24 season with a 6-25 overall record and 2-16 conference record.  The Cowgirls ended the season on a positive note by winning two of its last three games. The Cowgirls, who didn't have a senior on the team, return its entire roster next season.
 
UNO improved to 11-8 overall and 8-10 in the SLC and is one of the eight teams in next week's Southland Conference Championship, hosted by McNeese.
 
With the game tied at 64 all with 11 seconds, UNO's Jayla Kimbrough's was fouled with eight seconds.  Kimbrough made the first free throw for the 65-64 lead and missed the second free throw, but an inadvertent whistle was called and gave the Privateers the ball back. DeArica Pryor was fouled on the next play sending her to the line for two free throws.  Pryor sank both free throws to give UNO a 67-64 with four seconds to play.
 
Following a timeout by McNeese to advance the ball to their side of the court, the Cowgirls turned the ball over and never got a shot off on its last possession of the game.
 
UNO held a 16-12 first quarter lead and held its largest lead of eight points in the quarter.  McNeese went on a run late in the first quarter and into the beginning of the second quarter to pull to within two points (16-14).  The Cowgirls eventually tied the game at 30 apiece and took a two-point lead (32-30) on two free throws by Emilia Tenbrock with :08 left in the half.  UNO's Kyla Davis tied the game at 32 with a field goal as the half ended.  
 
The Privateers would outscore the Cowgirls 22-15 in the third quarter and held as much as an eight-point lead (51-43) late in the period.
 
Tenbrock ended the game with 23 points and Julia Puente finished the game with a double double (15 pts., 12 reb.) for her third double double of the season.  Clara Rosini tied her career high with 13 rebounds, 11 were on defense.