LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball continued to struggle putting a complete game together Thursday night in its 77-63 loss to Incarnate Word despite a career high 21 points from Kiayra Ellis.  The game consisted of 14 ties and 10 lead changes.
 
The loss drops the Cowgirls to 8-13 overall and 3-7 in conference play.  UIW improves to 12-8 overall and 7-4 with the win.
 
McNeese headed into the fourth quarter, the quarter that has typically been their best quarter this season with a 52-49 lead.
 
UIW scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to lead 56-52.  McNeese scored the next four points to tie the game 56 all with eight minutes to play. 
 
The Cardinals controlled the next four minutes by going on a 15-0 run to lead 71-56 and ended the quarter outscoring the Cowgirls 28-11 to pick up the win.
 
Both teams nearly matched their shooting percent on the night with the Cardinals shooting 42.3 percent from the field while the Cowgirls shot 42.6 percent from the field.
 
The Cardinals scored 50 of their 77 points in the paint and scored 24 points off 10 Cowgirl turnovers and edged the Cowgirls in rebounds, 40-34.
 
Ellis made good on seven of her 12 attempts from the field and was one of three Cowgirls to pull down a team high six points.
 
Paris Guillory ended the game with 16 points and six rebounds.  Sydney McQuietor also ended the game with six rebounds.
 
UIW placed four players in double figures with Jorja Elliott leading the Cardinals with 17 points.  Myra Bell and Brynn Lusby both scored 11 apiece while Shito Isono ended the game with 10 points.  Elliott and Raimi McCrary led UIW with eight rebounds apiece.
 
McNeese will travel to Nicholls on Saturday, Feb. 1.  Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• Kiayra Ellis led all players with a career high 21 points
• Avery Young scored a career high nine points
• Sisters- McNeese's Sydney McQuietor and UIW's Mallory McQuietor were on opposite benches tonight.  Sydney tied her career high with seven points and pulled down six rebounds while Mallory was credited with one shot attempt
• With her 16 points tonight, Paris Guillory has now scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games played.

UPCOMING GAMES
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.)