LAKE CHARLES—
Lexi Alexander and
Carley Hamilton came off the bench to combine for 24 points to lead McNeese women's basketball in a 62-51 Southland Conference win over Nicholls Thursday night. The Cowgirls improve to 11-4 overall and 5-1 in the SLC with the win while Nicholls falls to 7-6 overall and 3-3 in the SLC.
The win extended the Cowgirls winning streak to four games and they have now won eight of their last 10 games. The win coupled by Northwestern State and UIW losses Thursday night puts the Cowgirls atop the SLC standings.
Alexander scored 12 points and led McNeese with nine rebounds and five steals. Alexander was 6 of 13 from the field with seven of her rebounds coming on defense.
Hamilton also scored 12 points which is a career high for her. Hamilton was 5 of 12 from the field and 2 of 4 from three-point range
Nicholls also had two players score in double figures. Jesslynn Jalomo led all players with 13 points with nine coming via the three-pointer. Anyra Wilson came off the bench to score 12 points on 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 4 free throws.
The Cowgirls will conclude their three game homestand Saturday against Southeastern in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cowboys. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
1st QUARTER
• McNeese scored the first three points of the game
• held its largest lead of four points (11-7) following a layup by Alexander
• McNeese forced seven first quarter turnovers and scored five of its point off those turnovers
• Missed six layups in the quarter
• McNeese shot 21 percent from the field while Nicholls shot 50 percent from the field
McNeese 11, Nicholls 11
2nd QUARTER
• McNeese opened the quarter on a 9-0 run and held Nicholls to 0-5 from the field in the first four minutes of the quarter
• McNeese held Nicholls scoreless for the first four minutes of the quarter (11-0) before the Colonels scored their first points of the quarter on two free throws by McKnight at the 5:16 mark
• McNeese held its largest lead of 12 points (23-11) with 5:23 left in the quarter and again at the half (30-18)
• Outscored Nicholls 19-7 in the quarter
HALFTIME: McNeese 30, Nicholls 18
3rd QUARTER
• McNeese led by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter on a three-pointer by
Arianna Patton.
• Nicholls cut the Cowgirl lead to five points with 50 seconds left in the quarter but
Kaili Chamberlin hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to put the Cowgirls up by eight heading into the fourth quarter.
McNeese 42, Nicholls 34
4th QUARTER
• McNeese led 44-40 with 7:20 left in the game
•
Dakota Howard, the Cowgirls leading scorer, scored six points in five minutes to put the Cowgirls up 54-46 before fouling out with 2:19 left in the game
• Alasia Washington scored the Cowgirls final four points of the game, all from the free throw line
FINAL: McNeese 62, Nicholls 51
McNEESE NOTES
• It's the fourth straight win for the Cowgirls who have now won eight of their last 10 games
• With losses by Northwestern State and UIW, McNeese moved into sole first place in the SLC
•
Lexi Alexander came off the bench to score 12 points (10 in the first half) and grabbed a team high nine rebounds. Alexander also led all players with five steals in the game
•
Carley Hamilton also came off the bench to score a career high 12 points. Hamilton was 5 of 12 from the field including two three-pointers
•
Tyreona Sibley was credited with eight rebounds
• Mo'Nique Joseph came off the bench to record a career high seven rebounds (six on defense)
• Jalencia Pierre led all players with nine assists
• McNeese forced 17 first half turnovers and scored 17 points off those turnovers
• McNeese forced Nicholls to turn the ball over 23 times in the game and scored a total of 21 points off those turnovers
• McNeese was credited with 17 steals in the game, 13 coming in the first half
UPCOMING GAMES
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
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