St. George, UTAH— McNeese women's basketball head coach Ayla Guzzardo knew it would take a team effort in order to come away with a win Tuesday night over Utah Tech since the Cowgirls would be without their starting point guard Jalencia Pierre.  The Cowgirls responded by placing four players in double figures in handing Utah Tech a 67-52 loss, its first home loss of the season.

"Our seniors stepped up in a big way- both offensively and defensively," said Guzzardo. "We had a lot of players playing out of position because we didn't have our starting point guard.  Kaili Chamberlin and Allasia Washington came off the bench to give us some great minutes.  Ultimately we had a great team win."
 
Arianna Patton led McNeese (5-2) in scoring with 14 points. Chamberlin (13 pts.) and Washington (12) came off the bench to score in double figures while Dakota Howard chipped in with 10. McNeese scored 19 of their points from the free throw line, making good on 27 attempts.
 
McNeese outrebounded Utah Tech 43-37 and was led by Howard, who nearly recorded her first career double double by leading the Cowgirls with nine rebounds.  Tyreona Sibley ended the game with eight rebounds.
 
The Cowgirls defense held the Trailblazers to its lowest scoring output this season and 18 points below its average.
 
Utah Tech (4-3), who entered the game with 43 three-pointers, opened the game with two 3-pointers by Chardonnay Hartley to lead 6-2.  Chamberlin cut the lead to one point with a three-pointer of her own followed by five straight points by Washington to give McNeese a 10-6 lead at the 4:38 mark.  McNeese led the rest of the way.
 
Late in the first quarter, Utah Tech tied the game at 18 all on a Brie Crittendon trey but Avari Berry made one of two free throws to give McNeese the lead again.  Chamberlin's second three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Cowgirls a 22-18 lead.
 
McNeese outscored Utah Tech 15-9 in the second quarter to hold a 37-27 halftime lead.  Utah Tech cut the lead to seven points early in the third quarter, but Patton's pull up jumper upped the lead back to 11 points and the Cowgirls never gave up its double figure lead.
 
The Cowgirls held its largest lead of the game (21 pts.) with 4:32 left on Chamberlin's third trey of the game.
 
McNeese will continue its road trip by taking part in the Briann January Classic in Tempe, Arizona this weekend.  The Cowgirls will face Arizona State at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday and Nevada at 1 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.
 
1^st QUARTER
• Utah Tech took an early 6-2 lead on two 3-pointers
• Trailing 6-5, Allasia Washington scored the Cowgirls next five points for a 10-6 lead, one they wouldn't give up
• Utah Tech tied the game at 18 all with 1:11 left in the quarter on back-to-back 3-pointers by Brie Crittendon
• After Avery Berry made one of two free throws for a 19-18 lead, Kaili Chamberlin drained a three-pointer at the buzzer for the 22-18 first quarter lead
• Cowgirls were 7 of 10 from the free throw line in the opening quarter.
McNeese 22, Utah Tech 18
 
2nd QUARTER
• Utah Tech opened the quarter by outscoring McNeese 6-4 to cut the lead to four points
• McNeese would score the next five points on a 3-pointer by Patton and a layup by Howard to lead 33-24 midway through the quarter
• McNeese outscored Utah Tech 9-3 the rest of the quarter to lead 37-27
HALFTIME: McNeese 37, Utah Tech 27
 
3rd QUARTER
• Utah Tech opened the second half with a three-pointer to pull to within seven points (37-30)
• McNeese went on a 9-2 run including five straight points by Patton to lead 46-32 with 6:53 left in the quarter.
• Utah Tech cut the lead to 10 points (49-39) late in the quarter
• McNeese scored the next five points to lead 54-39 heading into the fourth quarter
McNeese 54, Utah Tech 39
 
4th QUARTER
• McNeese held a double digit lead throughout the quarter and held as much as a 21-point lead with 4:32 to play.  
 
McNEESE NOTES  
• Four the fourth straight game, McNeese placed four players in double figure scoring
• Kaili Chamberlin and Allasia Washington came off the bench to score season highs.  Chamberlin ended the game with 13 points and Washington ended with 12 points
• Dakota Howard came close to recording her first career double double with 10 points and nine rebounds
• McNeese ended the game 19 of 27 from the free throw line including 11 of 16 in the first half
• McNeese forced 20 turnovers and scored 18 points off those turnovers 
FINAL: McNeese 67, Utah Tech 52
 
  
UPCOMING GAMES
Dec. 5 at Arizona State (Briann January Classic/Tempe, Ariz.)/ 7:30 p.m. CT
Dec. 6 vs. Nevada (Briann January Classic/Tempe, Ariz.)/ 1 p.m. CT
Dec. 12 *East Texas A&M (5 p.m.)
Dec. 15 vs. NW State* (6:30 p.m.)
Dec. 29 at Incarnate Word* (6 p.m.)
Dec. 31 at Houston Christian* (2 p.m.)
Jan. 3 vs. Lamar* (1 p.m.)
Jan. 8 vs. Nicholls* (6:30 p.m.)