HOUSTON, Texas—McNeese women's basketball ended the 2025 calendar year and kicked off the New Year early with a commanding 63-43 Southland Conference win over Houston Christian Wednesday afternoon.  The win concluded a 2-0 Texas road trip for the Cowgirls who improved to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in the SLC, moving the Cowgirls atop the league standings with four other teams.  The loss dropped HCU to 4-7 overall and 2-2 in the SLC.
 
McNeese got off to a quick start by scoring the first 10 points of the game and never looked back.  The Cowgirls led by as many as 13 points in the first half and led 31-23 at the half.
 
The Cowgirls opened the second half by outscoring HCU 11-2 to lead by 17 points.  Howard scored nine of the Cowgirls first 11 points of the second half to give McNeese a 42-25.
 
Sibley's old fashion three-point play early in the fourth quarter put the Cowgirls up by 20 (53-33) and the Cowgirls never let up.  The Cowgirls held their largest lead of the game of 26 points at 61-35 following an Averi Berry jumper then again on an Alexander layup with 3:39 to play.
 
McNeese placed three players in double figure scoring with Dakota Howard continuing where she left off against UIW on Monday.  After tying her career high with 20 points against UIW, Howard finished with a game high 18 points today.  Howard also led all players with five steals and was credited with five rebounds.  She was 8-of-11 from the field and made both free throw attempts.
 
Lexi Alexander, who missed Monday's game due to an illness, came off the bench to score 12 points on 6-of-9 from the field and led the Cowgirls with six rebounds.  Tyreona Sibley scored in double figures for the second straight game, chipping in with 10 points.
 
Kamryn McLaurin led all players with 17 points while Grace Booth ended the game with a double-double (11 pts., 11 reb.)
 
McNeese ended the game shooting 44.8 percent from the field (26 of 58) and shot 88.9 percent from the free throw line (8 of 9).
 
The Cowgirls caused 27 turnovers and scored 30 points off those turnovers.  McNeese led 31-23 at the half.
 
McNeese returns home on Saturday, Jan. 3 to host Lamar in the first of three straight home games.
 
1^st QUARTER
• McNeese began the game by scoring the first 10 points of the game
• HCU cut it to single digits and got as close as seven points
• McNeese upped its lead back to 10 points in an Allasia Washington 3-pointer with 2:38 left in the quarter
McNeese 16, HCU 8
 
2^nd QUARTER
• Cowgirls started the quarter off with Dakota Howard scoring the first five points for a 21-8 lead two minutes in the quarter
• HCU got back into the game by using the three-pointer, scoring nine points from behind the arc to cut the McNeese lead to three points with just over a minute left in the half
• The Cowgirls scored the final five points of the half a layup by Pierre and a jumper by Patton with one second left.  Patton was fouled on the shot and made the free throw.
• McNeese shot 33.3 percent from the field in the half and was 6 of 7 from the free throw line
• HCU shot 44.4 percent from the field and was 4 of 5 from the free throw line.
• McNeese caused HCU to turn the ball over 17 times in the half and scored 12 points off those turnovers
HALFTIME: McNeese 31, HCU 23
 
 3^rd QUARTER
• After a layup by HCU to start the half, McNeese scored the next 11 points to lead 42-25. • Howard scored nine of the Cowgirls first 11 points of the half.
• McNeese outscored HCU 19-8 in the quarter to lead 50-33
McNeese 50, HCU 33
 
4^th QUARTER
• McNeese continued to increase its lead and held its largest lead of the game (26 pts.) with 4:45 and again with 3:39 left in the game.
FINAL: McNeese 63, HCU 43
 
UPCOMING GAMES
Jan. 3 vs. Lamar* (1 p.m.)
Jan. 8 vs. Nicholls* (6:30 p.m.)
Jan. 10 vs. Southeastern* (1 p.m.)
Jan. 15 at Texas A&M-CC* (7 p.m.)
Jan. 17 at UTRGV* (2 p.m.)
Jan. 22 at Southeastern* (6 p.m.)
Jan. 24 New Orleans* (1 p.m.)
Jan. 29 at SFA* (6 p.m.)
Jan. 31 at Lamar* (3 p.m.)
 
 
SLC Game; Home game in BOLD