LAKE CHARLES—For the first time since 2016, McNeese women's basketball recorded 10 Southland Conference win in a season with its 77-41 win over New Orleans on Saturday in the first meeting between the two teams this season.  The home game was the first home game in two weeks for the Cowgirls and the last home game this month.
 
McNeese improves to 16-4 overall and 10-1 in the SLC.  The loss drops UNO to 1-18 overall and 1-10 in the SLC.
 
The Cowgirls placed four players in double figure scoring with Jalencia Pierre leading all players with 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field.  Dakota Howard ended the game with 11 points and eight rebounds.  Howard was 5 of 9 from the field and picked up five of her eight rebounds on offense. Tyreona Sibley and Lexi Alexander both finished the game with 10 points apiece. 
 
For the second game in a row, head coach Ayla Guzzardo was able to rest her top seven players, with neither player playing more than 18 minutes.
 
McNeese scored the first 10 points of the game and never looked back and held a 21-5 first quarter lead.  The Cowgirls continued to build on its lead and held a 39-18 lead.
 
McNeese began the second half like it started the game, by scoring the first seven points of the second half, all coming from Jalencia Pierre.  The Cowgirls held as much as a 32-point lead in the third quarter and held its largest lead of the game with the final score.
 
The Cowgirls caused UNO to turn the ball over 29 times and scored 27 points off those turnovers.  McNeese scored 20 second chance points including 12 from fast breaks.
 
UNO, who averaged 14.5 offensive rebounds over their last seven games, were held to eight offensive rebounds in the game.  The Cowgirls outrebounded the Privateers 43-38 with 25 of the Cowgirls rebounds coming on defense.  
 
McNeese will hit the road again next week when they will travel to Stephen F. Austin next Thursday, Jan. 29 and at Lamar next, Jan. 31.
 
 
^1st QUARTER
• McNeese scored the first 10 points of the game
• UNO scored its first point of the game on a free throw with 4:28 left in the quarter and their first three points from the free throw line
• Caused UNO to turn the ball over nine times
• McNeese scored seven points off nine UNO first quarter turnovers
McNeese 21, UNO 5
 
2^nd QUARTER
• McNeese outscored UNO 9-2 to start the quarter to take a 30-7 lead, its largest lead of the half
• Shot 40% from the field in the half
• Scored 13 points off 15 UNO turnovers
• Scored 12 fastbreak points and 16 points in the paint
• Dakota Howard had 10 points and seven rebounds at the half
HALFTIME: McNeese 39, UNO 18
 
3^rd QUARTER
• McNeese started the quarter on a 7-2 run with all seven Cowgirls points coming from Jalencia Pierre
• Held as much as a 32-point lead (57-25) on an Arianna Patton 3-pointer
• Outscored UNO 24-13 in the quarter
McNeese 62, UNO 32
 
4^th QUARTER
• McNeese never trailed by less than 30 points in the quarter and held its largest lead by the finals score
FINAL: McNeese 77, UNO 41
 
 
McNEESE NOTES
• Improve to 16-4 overall and 10-1 in the SLC
• Extend its winning streak to nine games
• Have won 13 of last 15 games
• The 10 conference wis are the most won since 2016
• Opened the game by scoring the first 10 points
• Placed four players in double figure scoring
• Jalencia Pierre led all players with 13 points, Dakota Howard scored 11 points, Tyreona Sibley and Lexi Alexander both scored 10 points
• Dakota Howard led McNeese with eight rebounds
• McNeese scored 27 points off 29 UNO turnovers
• McNeese scored 20 second chance points including 12 points off fast breaks
• McNeese bench outscored UNO 34-15
 
 UPCOMING GAMES
Jan. 29 at SFA* (6 p.m.)
Jan. 31 at Lamar* (3 p.m.)
Feb. 5 Houston Christian (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 7 Incarnate Word (1 p.m.)*
Feb. 12 at Northwestern State (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 14 at East Texas A&M (2:30 p.m.)
Feb. 19 UTRGV (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 21 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1 p.m.)*
Feb. 26 at Nicholls (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 28 at UNO (2 p.m.)*
Mar. 2 Stephen F. Austin (6:30 p.m.)*
 
SLC Game; Home game in BOLD