The McNeese women’s basketball team opened up Southland Conference play with a 82-74 loss to Houston Baptist University. It was the first game for the Cowgirls inside the Legacy Center since March 4, 2020.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Houston Baptist started off the game with a 7-2 run capped with a Julija Vujakovic three-pointer. McNeese clawed back and tied the game 9-9 after a Le’Shenae Stubblefield, but HBU answered with another three-pointer by Vujakovic and then a three by Timia Jefferson.
The Huskies pushed the lead up to 17-11 but the Cowgirls closed out the quarter on a 11-2 run.
McNeese maintained a slim lead for most of the second quarter until HBU’s Jefferson hit a three-pointer with 4:35 left to give the Huskies a 30-27 advantage. After a layup by N’Denasija Collins, HBU led by five points.
McNeese quickly tied the game and took the lead at the break as Cristina Gil weaved through a few defenders and put up a layup as the buzzer sounded.
McNeese appeared in control for most of the third quarter. With 2:41 left in the quarter, Gil made a jumper that gave the Cowgirls a 53-48 lead.
HBU answered by ending the quarter on a 8-0 run as Enya Maguire hit a three-pointer before the buzzer. The Huskies held 56-53 lead and were shooting 46.7 percent from three-point range. HBU entered the game shooting 28.1 percent from beyond the arc.
The Huskies took the led again in the fourth on a 6-0 run and held a 66-62 advantage with six minutes left in the game. A few minutes later, HBU extended its lead after Desirae Hansen was called for a foul and then received a technical for something she said. Jefferson made all four free throws to give the Huskies a 72-64 lead.
McNeese’s Zuzanna Kulinska made a layup, drew a foul and drained the free throw for the old fashioned three-point play. That made it 74-71 for HBU but the Huskies responded as Jefferson hit another three-pointer and would hold on for the victory.
BIG NUMBER: 40
Houston Baptist entered Saturday’s game averaging only 28.1 percent from three-point range. Yet, the Huskies fared far better against the Cowgirls shooting 40 percent from three-point range.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: CRISTINA GIL
Gil came off the bench and gave the Cowgirls big production as she scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including going 4-of-5 from three-point range.
NEXT UP: McNeese (5-9, 0-1 SLC) returns to action on Thursday with a road game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Tip is set for 5 p.m.