LAKE CHARLES—The Ashton Feldhaus era got off to a good start Monday morning with a 65-53 season opening win over Texas A&M-Kingsville in McNeese women's basketball's annual Education Game.
McNeese (1-0) placed three players in double figures with
Valencia Fontenelle-Posson leading the way with her second career double double. Posson ended the game with 12 points and a game high 10 rebounds.
Avari Berry and
Carley Hamilton also ended the game in double figures as both players also recorded their career highs. Hamilton led all players with a career high 20 points, reaching her career high in the first half.
Berry scored a career high 18 points including the first 13 points for the Cowgirls.
Texas A&M-Kingsville also placed three players in double figures with Kaycee Groves leading the way with 18 points. Jade Perez and Caitlyn Benally both chipped in with 11 points apiece.
The Javelina's scored the game's first three points before Berry went on a tear to score the first 13 Cowgirl points to lead 13-7 and the Cowgirls never looked back. McNeese held a slim 13-12 lead but outscored the Javelina's 23-16 in the second quarter to lead 36-28.
McNeese led 53-37 at the end of third quarter, its largest lead of the game. The Javelina's got as close as nine points with 5:28 left in the game but Posson's three-pointer upped the lead back into double figures.
The Cowgirls ended the game shooting 42.4 percent from the field (25-29), 30.3 percent from behind the arc (10-33) and 55.6 percent from the free throw line, making five of their nine attempts.
McNeese will remain home to host Grambling on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. before ending the weekend with a 1 p.m. game against Louisiana Tech on Sunday, Nov. 8.
McNEESE NOTES
• It's the first McNeese win for first year head coach Ashton Feldhaus
• McNeese is 5-0 at home in Education Games
• Three McNeese players scored in double figures
• Valencia Fontnelle-Posson led McNeese with a double double (12 pts., 10 reb.)
•
Carley Hamilton led all players with a career high 20 points, reaching her career high of 14 in the first half
•
Avari Berry scored a career high 18 points and led the Cowgirls with six assists and four steals
• As a team, McNeese made 10 three-pointers (10 for 33)
• McNeese turned the ball over only nine times and caused the Javelina's to turn the ball over 15 times
UPCOMING COWGIRL GAMES
Nov. 5 Grambling (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 8 Louisiana Tech (1 p.m.)
Nov. 10 at LSU (7 p.m.)
Nov. 13 College of Biblical Studies (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 16 at Tulane (6:30 p.m.)
Nov. 18 at Southern Miss (6 p.m.)
Nov. 26-28 at St. Pete Showcase (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Nov. 26 vs. College of Charleston (12 p.m.)
Nov. 28 vs. North Dakota State (11 a.m.)
Dec. 3 *Incarnate Word (6:30 p.m.)
Dec. 5 *Houston Christian (1 p.m.)
Dec. 9 UL-Lafayette (6:30 p.m.)
Dec. 17 *at East Texas A&M (6:30 p.m.)
Dec. 19 *at Northwestern State (1 p.m.)
Dec. 31 *Stephen F. Austin (1 p.m.)
*Southland Conference Game
Home Game In
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