Nassau, BAHAMAS—McNeese women's basketball picked up a 76-66 win over Belmont, who entered the game ranked 11^th in the CollegeInsider Top 25 Mid Major poll in the consolation game of the Goombay Division Wednesday to end tournament play with a 1-1 record.
 
The win evened the Cowgirls record to 4-2 while the Bruins fall to 3-4 with the loss.
 
The game went back and forth for most of the first half and consisted of 14 lead changes.  Belmont held a 35-32 halftime lead until Jalencia Pierre took over the game and scored 10 straight points in the third quarter to give McNeese a 45-40 lead and Arianna Patton ended the quarter with a three-pointer as time ran out to extend the Cowgirl lead to 52-46 heading into the fourth quarter. 
 
Belmont attempted to make a comeback by attempting three-pointers, but the Cowgirls made their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
For the third straight game, McNeese placed at least four players in double figures.  Jalencia Pierre led McNeese in scoring with 17 points.  Arianna Patton and Lexi Alexander ended the game with 14 apiece and Dakota Howard chipped in with 12 points.  Alexander led the Cowgirl with seven rebounds.

McNeese will return to action next Monday, Dec. 2 when the Cowgirls will travel to St. George, Utah to face Utah Tech.
 
1^st QUARTER
• At the first media timeout (4:51) game was tied at 12 apiece.
• Cowgirls opened the game 4 for 8 from the field (50%), 2 of 5 from 3-point range
• McNeese went on a 4-1 run to lead 20-16 with 1:21 left in the quarter
• Belmont scored the final four points of the quarter to tie the game
• McNeese scored 12 of its 20 points in the paint in the quarter
 
McNeese 20, Belmont 20
 
2nd QUARTER
• McNeese led 27-25 with 5:55 left on a three-pointer by Patton
• Belmont went on a 5-0 run to lead 30-27 with 4:41 left in the quarter
• Belmont held its largest lead of six points (35-29) with :33 seconds left
• Chamberlin cut the lead in half with a three-pointer with :20 seconds left
• McNeese shot 41% from the field and Belmont shot 50% from the field in the half
• Belmont scored 21 of its first half points from three-point range, making 7 of 15 attempts
 
HALFTIME: BELMONT 35, McNeese 32
 
3rd QUARTER
• Trailing 38-35 early in the quarter, Pierre scored 10 straight points to give McNeese a 45-40 lead with 2:50 left in the quarter
• McNeese extended its lead to 49-42 on two Dakota Howard free throws.
• Patton's three-pointer with :02 seconds left in the quarter gave the Cowgirls a 52-46 lead
 
McNeese 52, Belmont 46
 
4th QUARTER
• McNeese never trailed in the quarter
• Belmont got as close as five points early in the quarter
• McNeese took its first double figure lead on two free throws by Lexi Alexander with 3:50 left in the game
• McNeese's last 11 points of the game came from free throws with 1:45 to play
 
McNEESE NOTES  
• Cowgirls end tournament play with a 1-1 record to improve to 4-2 overall
• For the third straight game, at least four Cowgirls scored in double figures in all three games
• Jalencia Pierre scored a season high 17 points
• Lexi Alexander and Arianna Patton scored 14 points
• Dakota Howard scored 12 points
• Alexander led McNeese with seven rebounds
• Alexander has scored in double figures in the last four games
• Patton has scored in double figures in the last three games
 
FINAL: McNeese 76, Belmont 66
 

Upcoming Games
Dec. 2  at Utah Tech
Dec. 5 at Arizona State (Briann January Classic/Tempe, Ariz.)
Dec. 6 vs. Nevada (Briann January Classic/Tempe, Ariz.)
Dec. 12 *East Texas A&M (5 p.m.)
 
SLC Game; Home game in BOLD