Cowgirls eliminated from SLC quarterfinals by rival Cardinals

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese women’s basketball’s season came to an end here Tuesday an 80-75 heartbreaking overtime loss to Lamar in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament, ending their season with a 12-19 record.

“I’m proud of the team for continuing to fight throughout the game,” said head coach Lynn Kennedy. “Getting down early, wasn’t the start we wanted but late in the game we locked in defensively and our offensive execution was better. We’ve improved throughout the season, our record didn’t show it at times, but we did improv throughout the year.”

Lamar (19-11) jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game and held a 10-point lead (24-14) after the first quarter. The Cowgirls cut the lead in half midway through the second quarter by going on an 8-3 run to trail 27-22 but Lamar ended the half on a 9-7 run to lead 36-29.

The Cardinals continued to increase its lead in the third quarter and held as much as a 12-point lead late in the quarter.

McNeese didn’t give up kept chipping away at the Lamar lead which was 10 points with 8:33 left in regulation. The Cowgirls cut the lead to one point (65-64) on a Kaili Chamberlin turnaround jumper in the lane with 1:14 left. Lamar’s Portia Adams put the Cardinals up by three on their next possession but Desirae Hansen only three-pointer of the game couldn’t have come at a better time. With 34 seconds left, Hansen drained a three to tie the game at 67 all. Lamar missed two layups in the final six seconds and Devine Tanks grabbed the rebound, sending the game into overtime.

McNeese took its first lead of the game on a free throw by Chamberlin at the four-minute mark and then led 70-69 on a Chamberlin layup with 3:18 in overtime but a jumper by Sabrina Dean put the Cardinals up 71-70 and they never let the lead slip away on its way to the 80-75 win.

Four Cowgirls scored in double figures with Chamberlin leading the Cowgirls with a season high 23 points on 10 of 15 from the field including two three-pointers. Le’Shenae Stubblefield also scored a season high 19 points with 13 coming off 14 free throw attempts. Paris Mullins and Cristina Gil scored 10 points apiece with Gil tying her season high.