EDINBURG, Texas— McNeese women's basketball got as close as three points in the fourth quarter but fell short in its comeback here Saturday in a 73-65 loss at UTRGV.
 
McNeese placed three players in double figure scoring with Kiayra Ellis leading the Cowgirls with 17 points and tied for a team high eight rebounds which ties her career high.  Ty Williams scored 15 points and Azjah Reeves added 11 points.  Reeves ended the game with a career high eight rebounds.
 
UTRGV had four players score in double figures with Charlotte O'Keefe ending the game with a double double (23 points, 20 rebounds).
 
UTRGV opened the game with a 14-8 first quarter lead and never gave up the lead on its way to the win that snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 10-10 overall and 5-4 in the SLC.
 
The loss drops McNeese to 7-12 overall and 2-6 in the Southland and its fourth straight loss. 
 
The slow start for the Cowgirls in the first quarter was a result of  2 for 12 attempts from the field including 0 for 5 from three-point range.  Four of the Cowgirls' eight first quarter points came from the free line.
 
McNeese got in a little rhythm in the second quarter and was able to connect on 7 of 17 shots for a 41.2 field goal shooting percent but UTRGV was 10 0f 16 from the field for a 62.5 field goal percent, allowing the Vaqueros to hold a 35-24 halftime lead.
 
UTRGV opened the second half with a 6-1 run to take its largest lead of the game (41-25) with 7:38 left in the third quarter.
 
Back-to-back three pointers by Kiayra Ellis and Paris Guillory and a layup by Azjah Reeves cut the UTRGV lead to single digits (53-46) with 1:03 left in the third.  The Cowgirls could have gotten closer in the closing seconds of the quarter, but Reeves missed two free throws.
 
McNeese opened the fourth quarter with a Ty Williams three-pointer to pull to within four points (53-49) and then an Ellis three-pointer cut the lead to 55-52.  Ellis' three-pointer was the Cowgirls fifth in the last six straight three-point attempts.
 
Down by nine 70-61 with 2:27 left to play, offsetting technical fouls were called which resulted in no free throws for either team but the Cowgirls gained possession.
 
In the final 2:27 left in the game, McNeese made two free throws by .Williams and a layup by Wilnie Joseph but missed two layups, and two three-pointers
 
On bright spot for the Cowgirls was in turnovers where they only committed seven after entering the game averaging 20.2 per contest.
 
McNeese will travel to Corpus Christi, Texas on Monday for a 4:30 p.m. game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
 
McNEESE NOTES
• The loss is the fourth straight for the Cowgirls
• Three Cowgirls scored in double figures
• Kiayra Ellis led McNeese with 17 points and tied her career high with eight rebounds
• Ty Williams scored 15 points
• Azjah Reeves scored 11 points and grabbed a career high eight rebounds
• Paris Guillory, the Cowgirls' leading scorer was held to five points and it's the first in 10 games she didn't score in double figures.
• Mireia Yespes played only 14 minutes after suffering an injury in the first half.  The Cowgirls leading rebounder had five points and three rebounds prior to the injury.
 
 
UPCOMING GAMES
Jan. 27 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4:30 p.m.)
Jan. 30 Incarnate Word (6 p.m.)
Feb. 1 at Nicholls (1 p.m.)
Feb. 6 East Texas A&M (6 p.m.)
Feb. 8 NW State (1 p.m.)
Feb. 13 at Southeastern (6 p.m.)
Feb. 15 at New Orleans (2 p.m.)
Feb. 20 UTRGV (6 p.m.)
Feb. 22 Texas A&M-CC (1 p.m.)
Feb. 27 at Stephen F. Austin (6:30 p.m.)