McNeese falls at A&M Commerce despite Tenbrock’s 40 points

COMMERCE, Texas — A career night by McNeese’s Emilia Tenbrock, who led all players with a career high 40 points wasn’t enough to overcome a slow start by the Cowgirls in their 87-78 Southland Conference road loss at Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday.

The loss drops McNeese to 4-11 overall and 0-2 in the SLC while the improves Commerce to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in the SLC.

Tenbrock is only the second Cowgirl in school history to score at least 40 points in a game and one of seven NCAA Division I women’s basketball players to score at least 40 points this season. She scored 17 of the Cowgirls’ 37 first half points. Tenbrock was 14 of 26 from the field, 4 of 9 from behind the arc and 8 of 9 from the free throw line.

McNeese Hall of Famer Vicky Chapman is the other Cowgirl to score at least 40 points in a game with 43 against then USL back in 1976.

Azjah Reeves was the only other Cowgirl to score in double figures, ending the game with 14 points.

Texas A&M-Commerce had four double figure scorers with Mia Deck leading the way with a double double (23 pts., 10 reb.).

Texas A&M-Commerce got off to a hot start by connecting on 7 of 9 from the field including 5 of 6 from the field to take an early 13-1 lead less than two minutes into the game.

Commerce held its largest lead of the game of 19 points in the first half but a late run in the second quarter by McNeese allowed the Cowgirls to cut the lead to five points before going into the half trailing 42-36.

McNeese opened the second half on an 8-4 run to pull to within two points (46-44) but a 9-0 Commerce run pushed the lead back to 10 points. The Lions would outscore McNeese 27-18 in the third quarter to lead 69-54.

The Cowgirls trailed by 18 points three times in the fourth quarter but fought their way back to cut the lead eight points on a Tenbrock layup with 1:42 to play.

With the game winding down, the Cowgirls fouled in an attempt to make a comeback, but Commerce connected on their free throws and the Cowgirls missed their last four attempts from the field.

1st Quarter
• McNeese scored the first point of the game, but Commerce scored the next 13 to take a 13-1 less than two minutes into the game
• Commerce started the game by connecting on 7 of 9 from the field including 5 of 6 from three-point range
• Commerce shot 52.4 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range (6 of 9)
• McNeese shot 26.3 percent from the field (5 of 19) and 25.0 percent (2 of 8) from three-point range

2nd Quarter
• Back-to-back three’s by Yespes and Tenbrock cut the Lion lead to nine points (29-20) early in the second quarter
• McNeese suffered about a two-minute scoring drought that allowed Commerce to extend its lead to 35-22
• McNeese cut the lead to nine points with 3:31 left in the quarter on a Tenbrock turn around layup
• McNeese pulled to within seven points with 1:20 left in the quarter on a Cabanas 3-pointer then a layup by Tenbrock cut the Commerce lead to five points 39-34 with 1:15 left in the first half
• McNeese trailed 42-36 at the half.

3rd Quarter
• McNeese opened the second half on an 8-4 run to pull to within two points (46-44) early in the quarter
• Commerce responded with a 9-0 run to lead 60-50 late in the quarter and outscored McNeese 27-18 in the quarter to hold a 69-54 lead

4th Quarter
• McNeese trailed by 18 points (84-66) with 4:18 to play but the Cowgirls went on a 10-0 run to pull to within eight points with 1:42 to play

NOTES
• Emilia Tenbrock finished the game with a career high 40 points with 17 points coming in the first half
• Tenbrock is only the second player in Cowgirl history to score at least 40 points in a game and one of seven D1 WBB players to score at least 40 points in a game this season.
• Vicky Chapman scored 43 points against then USL in 1976.
• Azjah Reeves added 14 points and was the only other Cowgirl to score in double figures
• Clara Rosini led McNeese with a career high 10 rebounds
• McNeese’s bench scored 47 points
• Commerce led for all but 22 seconds in the game
• Commerce outrebounded McNeese 48-32
• McNeese turned the ball over 10 times, the second least this season
• McNeese ended the game with a 37.1 field goal percent, 28.0 3-pt. percent and 65.5 free throw percent
• Commerce ended the game with a 45.1 field goal percent, 40.9 3-pt. percent and 66.7 free throw percent

NCAA D1 Women’s Basketball Players To Score At Least 40 Points In A Game This Season (as of Jan. 5, 2024)
1 Caitlin Clark, Iowa vs. Virginia Tech 11/09/2023 44 pts.
2 Mikaylah Williams, LSU vs. Kent St. 11/14/2023 42 pts.
3 Madison Conner, TCU vs. Tulsa 12/01/2023 41 pts.
4 Caitlin Clark, Iowa (Big Ten) vs. Michigan St. 1/02/2024 40 pts.
4 Shay Ciezki, Penn St. (Big Ten) vs. Central Conn. St. 12/20/2023 40 pts.
4 Lucy Olsen, Villanova (Big East) vs. Temple 11/19/2023 40 pts.

COWGIRLS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thur., Jan. 11 Lamar (7 p.m.)/SLC Home Opener
Sat., Jan. 13 Southeastern (1 p.m.)
Thu., Jan. 18 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7 p.m.)
Sat., Jan. 20 at Incarnate Word (2 p.m.)