TEMPE, Ariz.— McNeese women's basketball fell short in its attempt to hand Arizona State its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 57-47.
"Definitely a hard fought battle tonight against an undefeated Big 12 team," said head coach
Ayla Guzzardo. Knowing we were struggling to score around the rim and still in the game shows our fight."
Arianna Patton led McNeese in scoring with 12 points on 4 of 13 from the field including 3 of 9 from behind the arc.
Allasia Washington was the only other Cowgirl to reach double figures with 11 points. Washington was 4 of 10 from the field and also made three treys (3 of 5).
"Our seniors Patton and Washington really stepped up again tonight for us. They both are playing with a lot of confidence."
McNeese (5-3) led by as much as six points early in the game and held a slim two-point lead (12-10) after the first quarter.
With the Cowgirls leading 15-14 early in the second quarter, McNeese went cold from the field for five minutes, missing seven straight field goal attempts while ASU (9-0) capitalized on those misses and took a 28-15 lead with just over two minutes left in the half . ASU outscored McNeese 23-7 to lead 33-19 at the half.
Neither team shot the ball well in the third quarter, but ASU held its largest lead of the game of 18 points (42-26) heading into the final quarter.
"Being down by 18 points and coming back to make it a game really shows what we are capable of doing. I wish a few calls would have went our way at the end, but we have to be able to play through the way the game is being called," said Guzzardo.
The Cowgirls never gave up as they chipped away at the lead and got as close as five points (45-40) following
Allasia Washington's three-pointer with 6:50 to play.
McNeese kept the game within single digits with 2:05 to play and trailing 54-45. ASU would score its final three points off free throws while the Cowgirls had chances in the final 1:57 to play but could only come away with two points.
ASU outrebound McNeese 46-26 and were 17 of 22 from the free throw line will the Cowgirls were 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
The Cowgirls will conclude tournament play against Nevada (4-5) at 1 p.m. (CST). Live Stats will be available on mcneesesports.com. The game will not be streamed.
The Wolf Pack fell 68-45 to San Francisco on earlier Friday
1st QUARTER
• McNeese took the early lead on an Alexander jumper
• The quarter consisted of three ties
• McNeese held a 12-6 lead with 1:46 left in the quarter
• ASU scored the final four points of the quarter
McNeese 12, Arizona State 10
2nd QUARTER
• McNeese opened the quarter with a three-pointer by Washington for a led 15-12 lead
• The Cowgirls went cold for five minutes and missed seven straight shots while being outscored 17-1 during that span.
• ASU outscored the Cowgirls 23-7 in the quarter
HALFTIME: Arizona State 33, McNeese 19
3rd QUARTER
• Arizona State held as much as an 18-point lead in the quarter
Arizona State 42, McNeese 26
4th QUARTER
• McNeese fought back to get as close as five points (45-40) with 6:50 on a Washington three-pointer.
• The Cowgirls stayed within single digits for just over four minutes before falling by 10 points
FINAL: Arizona State 57, McNeese 47
Upcoming Games
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.)
Jan. 10 vs. Southeastern* (1 p.m.)
SLC Game; Home game in
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