McNeese falls 97-48 to Stephen F. Austin in SLC women’s hoops play

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese women’s basketball ran into a hot shooting Stephen F. Austin team here Wednesday night in a 97-48 Southland Conference loss, the fourth straight for the Cowgirls.

McNeese dropped to 5-17 overall and 3-8 in the SLC. The Ladyjacks improved to 20-3 overall and remained undefeated in league play at 11-0.

The Ladyjacks scorched the nets with 15 three-pointers for a 55.6 percent and ended the game shooting 69.6 percent from the field (39 of 56) with 46 of their points coming from the paint and 42 from the bench.

Seven SFA players scored in double figures with Stephanie Visscher, Alyssa Mayfield, and Chanel Hayes all leading the way with 14 points apiece.

Damilola Balogun was the only Cowgirl to reach double digits with 17 points. McNeese ended the game shooting 30.2 percent from the floor and a dismal 7.7 percent from behind the arc, making 1 of 13 three-pointers.

Not only was it a bad shooting night for the Cowgirls but SFA controlled the board as well, outrebounding McNeese 38-24. The Ladyjacks dominated on the defensive end where they picked up 32 defensive rebounds and was led by eight from Mayfield.

SFA held a 25-14 lead after the first period then outscored McNeese 49-16 the next two quarters to take a 74-30 lead heading into the final period.

McNeese will look to regroup and will travel to Hammond this Saturday to take on Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m.