Cowgirls dominates Dillard in exhibition, 93-40

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese women’s basketball picked up a dominating 93-40 exhibition win over Dillard here Saturday that saw the Cowgirls connect on 15 three-pointers including nine in the first half. The McNeese school record for three-pointers is 16.

“I liked our energy even though we were a little nervous to start the game but we settled in an made a really good run at the end of the first quarter and into the second quarter to kind of put the game away,” said head coach Lynn Kennedy.

McNeese placed four players in double figures and was paced by freshman transfer Cristina Gil’s 19 points. Clara Rosini and Kaili Chamberlin both chipped in with 16 points apiece while Kyla Hamilton ended the game with 15 points. Desirae Hansen led McNeese with seven rebounds while Divine Tanks was credited with six.

The teams exchanged baskets for the first three minutes of the game before the Cowgirls put together a 23-1 run to hold a 27-7 lead after the first quarter. McNeese continued to pile on the points and would almost put up an identical score in the second quarter as they did in the first quarter, outscoring Dillard 22-7 to lead 49-14 at the half. The Cowgirls knocked down nine treys in the first half and shot 54.3 percent from the field.

McNeese continued its steady three-point shooting in the second half and led by as much as 45 points (72-27) at the end of the third quarter before going on to pick up the win.

“We shot the ball extremely well today. We have players who can step up and shoot the ball. We have to continue to work defensively, we gave them too many points at the free throw line and we have to clean up the offensive boards,” Kennedy said.

Dillard was led in scoring by Taylor Dewitt’s nine points.