Women’s Hoops – McNeese defeats Houston Baptist, 72-67

HOUSTON — McNeese women’s basketball got double doubles from Damilola Balogun (16 pts., 15 reb.) and Bre’Ashlee Jones (11 pts., 10 reb.) in a much needed 72-67 Southland Conference win here Saturday over Houston Baptist (7-18, 2-13 SLC) that snapped a three-game losing streak.

With other results around the league Saturday, the win puts the Cowgirls a game and a half out of eighth place with two regular season games left. The top eight teams will advance to the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy March 13-17.

McNeese (7-20, 5-11 SLC) also got double scoring from Callie Maddox who led the Cowgirls with 20 points and Regan Bolton chipped in 14 points.

The Cowgirls led by as many as seven points late in the opening period following one of two free throws by Maddox.

McNeese opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the half of 14 points less than three minutes into the second quarter.

HBU got as close as nine points (26-17) with 5:21 left in the quarter but another run (6-2) pushed the McNeese lead back to 13 points with just over four minutes left. McNeese would hold its largest lead of the game (36-21) with 1:46 left in the second quarter and would hold a 38-26 halftime lead.

McNeese shot 50 percent from the floor in the second quarter (8 for 16) including 2 of 4 from behind the arc and 3 of 4 from the free throw line.

HBU came out of the locker room and outscored McNeese 27-16 in the third quarter and got as close as one point twice late in the third quarter including 13 points off turnovers.

The fourth quarter went back and forth with the Cowgirls takin a four-point lead (59-55) following free throws by Maddox and a three-pointer by Bolton two minutes into the quarter.

HBU didn’t go away as the Huskies would go on a 6-0 run to take its first lead (61-59) since early in the first quarter. The Huskies would make two more free throws to take a four-point lead, its largest of the game.

A layup up Balogun brought McNeese to within two points before a Jones layup tied the game at 65 apiece with 4:18 left to play then a Bolton layup gave McNeese a slim two-point lead.

HBU tied the game at 67 on the next possession but the Cowgirls ended the game on a 5-0 run to seal the win.