TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—McNeese women's basketball came out aggressively on defense Thursday night against Alabama and caused 14 first half turnovers, but the Cowgirls offense went cold in the second half allowing Alabama to come away with a 66-44 win. 
 
"We got the looks we wanted, we just missed some open shots close to the rim," said head coach Ayla Guzzardo. "They had 11 blocks, and we changed our shots some and tried to rush them. I'm not upset. We fought hard and we showed we could play with an SEC team."
 
McNeese (1-1) was led in scoring by Tyreona Sibley's 12 points.  Sibley was the only Cowgirl to score in double figures.
 
Alabama (2-0) had two players score in double figures.  Cody Essence ended the game with a double double including a career high 23 points to go along with a game 11 rebounds.  Essence also ended the game with a career high six blocks.  Karly Weathers chipped in with 14 pints including 4 of 7 from three-point range.
 
The Cowgirls got off to a slow start in both the first quarter and third quarter.  After starting the game 0-8 from the field, McNeese went on an 11-0 run to take an 11-4 lead.
 
McNeese held its largest lead of the game of 10 points (25-15), midway through the second quarter and held a 29-25 halftime lead.
 
The second half for the Cowgirls began like the game started.  McNeese's offense couldn't buy a basket in the first six minutes of the third quarter and Alabama took care of the ball much better than in the first half, outscoring the Cowgirls 20-7 to lead 45-36.  The Tide lead was in large part due to Essence who scored nine of the Tides 20 third quarter points.
 
The Cowgirls got as close as five points early in the fourth quarter, but Alabama went on to outscore the Cowgirls 18-4 in the final seven minutes.
 
McNeese will take a 10-day break and will return to the hardwood on Nov. 16 when they will travel to Stephenville, Texas to face Tarleton State.
 
 
1^st QUARTER
• Alabama scored the first four points of the game
• McNeese began the game 0-8 before Tyreona Sibley scored the Cowgirls first two points of the game with 4:59 left in the quarter
• Cowgirl defense forced Alabama to turn the ball over 5 times in the first five minutes
• Cowgirls went on an 11-0 run to take a 11-4 lead and took its first lead (6-4) of the game on a jumper by Jalencia Pierre
• McNeese led 13-9 after the quarter
• McNeese scored six of its 13 first quarter points off nine Alabama turnovers  
 
2nd QUARTER
• Alabama scored the first seven points of the quarter to pull to within one point (15-14), but the Cowgirls went on a scoring run to take a 10-point lead (25-15) midway through the quarter.
• The Tide responded with a run of their own to cut the lead to two points (27-25) with just over a minute left in the half before Dakota Howard made two free throws to give McNeese a 29-25 halftime lead.
 
3rd QUARTER
• Alabama opened the second half by scoring the first 12 points to take its first lead of the game at 37-29.
• McNeese opened the second half 0-13 from the field and scored its first point of the half on a free throw by Dakota Howard with 3:26 left in the quarter.
• The Cowgirls made their first field goal of the half with 2:10 left in the quarter on a layup by Lexi Alexander.
• McNeese only scored two points off three Alabama turnovers
 
 4th QUARTER
• McNeese cut the lead to five points 45-40 early in the quarter
• McNeese was outscored 19-8 in the quarter
 
 
NOTES
• McNeese caused 14 first half turnovers and scored 12 points off those turnovers
• McNeese had eight steals in the first half
• Both teams shot 43 percent from the field in the first half
• McNeese led by as many as 10 points in the first half (25-15) midway through the second quarter
•Alabama started the second half on a 12-0 run to take its first lead of the game
• McNeese was outscored 20-7 in the third quarter and trailed 45-36
• Tyreona Sibley led McNeese in scoring with 12 points and was the only Cowgirl to score in double figures.
• Starters Lexi Alexander and Dakota Howard fouled out
• Cowgirls were 1 of 10 from three-point range
• McNeese scored 34 points in the paint and 11 fast break points
  
 Next Game
Nov. 16 at Tarleton State (2 p.m./ESPN+)

Upcoming Games
Nov. 22 LSU-Alexandria (1 p.m./ESPN+)
!Nov. 24 vs. West Virginia (12:30 p.m. CT/Flo College)
!Nov. 26 vs. Ohio State/Belmont 
Dec. 2  at Utah Tech (ESPN+)
^Dec. 5 at Arizona State (ESPN+)
^Dec. 6 vs. Nevada
Dec. 12 East Texas A&M (5 p.m./ESPN+)

!- Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship
^- Briann January Classic/Tempe, Ariz.