Nov. 16, 2007

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES-- McNeese State's women's basketball team dropped its home opener to New Orleans here Friday night by the score of 75-51. The loss drops the Cowgirls to 0-3 on the season while UNO improved to 2-0.

McNeese had three players score in double figures and were led by Ne'Aisha Anderson's 17 points. Anderson was six of 12 from the field and four of seven from three-point range. Also scoring in double figures was Brittany Boone with 11 and Conceita Cutrer contributed with 10.

"I was dissappointed in our defensive effort tonight," said head coach Brooks Donald Williams. McNeese was outrebounded 53-33 and UNO crashed the boards for 38 defensive rebounds. "This was a big blow for us tonight not having Jessica Hooker." Hooker didn't dress out due to an injury she suffered at Southern Miss Tuesday.

Like the previous two games, New Orleans held a height advantage over the Cowgirls and they took advantage of that as the Privateer scored 48 of their 75 points in the paint.

The Cowgirls didn't help their own cause as they shot 28.6 percent from the fieldd, connecting on 18 of 36 from the field, including eight of 34 from three-point range.

McNeese took an early 4-0 lead on a jumper by Cutrer and then a layup by Reeshimah Davis with 18:15 left in the first half.

UNO's Andrea Williams gave the Privateers a three point lead at the 15:41 minue mark then extended its lead to double figures (27-17) with 5:41 left in the half.

McNeese cut the lead to nine twice in the final three minutes of the half before going into the locker room trailing 35-23.

"Conceita showed signs of her skill tonight. Coming from a junior college takes a little time to adjust. It's like a light switch went on."

New Orleans continued to extend its lead in the second half and held its largest lead of the game (73-43) with 3:23.

"A big positive in the game was the play of Ne'Aisha Anderson. She had three good practices leading up to tonight's game. She was mentally and physically ready to play."

McNeese will travel to Jackson State Monday night in the first of five games the Cowgirls will play in the next six days. From here, McNeese will travel to Ohio to play at Cincinnati on Wednesday before taking part in the National City Xavier Invitational Nov. 23-25. Here the Cowgirls will face Liberty, Xavier and Houston.