Nov. 23, 2007

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio--- McNeese State's women's basketball team fell 92-52 to Liberty here Friday night on the first day of the National City Xavier Invitational.

Liberty came out the locker room shooting lights out and going to its inside game via Megan Frazee. The Flames held a 13-2 lead with 13:31 left in the first half before extending its lead to 25-4 with 9:16 left. Frazee scored 11 of her game high 21 points in the first half. She was almost perfect from the field, making four of six and was perfect from the charity stripe (three of three). She ended the game making seven of 10 from the field and seven for seven from the free throw line.

McNeese (0-6) had three Cowgirls score in double figures with Ne'Aisha Anderson and Lenissa Lopez leading the Cowgirls with 11 points each. Courtnee' Hollins chipped in 10.

Anderson was three of nine from the field, with all three field goals coming from three point land. Robinson was perfect from the free throw line, making both attempts. The double figure output is Anderson's fourth straight.

After dishing out a career high eight assists against Cincinnati on Wednesday, Lopez followed that performance with a career high 11 points here Friday. Lopez hit two three's and was five of six from the charity stripe.

"Leni played very solid tonight. I am so proud for her and the success she is having in her point guard play. She is consistently setting players up for open looks. If she continues to improve her game, she will be a tough point guard come conference time."

Hollins was three of 12 from the field including one three-pointer and three of four free throws. The Cowgirls shot well from the free throw line tonight, making 16 of 23 for a 69.6 percent.

After shooting 81.8 percent from the free throw line in the first half (9-11), McNeese made seven of 12 in the second half. McNeese trailed 57-18 at the half after a slow start. "We came out of the blocks extremely fatigued. We struggled getting up and down the court and defending the post," said head coach Brooks Donald Williams. The Cowgirls were outrebounded 50-24.

Once again the Cowgirls were at a height disadvantage with Liberty starting three players over six feet. The Flames took advantage of the Cowgirls' height disadvantage as they outscored the Cowgirls 38-8 in the paint with 20 of those points coming from second chances.

The Cowgirls played better in the second half, being outscored by one point (35-34). McNeese took advantage of 22 Liberty turnonvers and scored 16 points. McNeese's bench contributed with 24 points.

"I was very proud of our effort in the second half. We battled and played Liberty to a one point game in the second half. Our full court pressure was very effective but it was our effort that increased."

The competition gets even tougher Saturday when the Cowgirls face the tournament's host team in Xavier at 3 p.m. (CST) in the second of three tournament games for the Cowgirls and fourth game this. The game can be heard live on KJEF (1290 AM).

Xavier (3-1) defeated Houston 69-47 in the second game of the tournament here Friday night. Ta'Shia Phillips and sophomore All-American candidate and a member of the John R. Wooden Award Watch List Amber Harris both recorded double-doubles in the victory. Phillips scored 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while Harris scored 17 points to go along with her 13 rebounds. The Muskateers have advanced to the postseason in nine of the last 10 years, losing 65-52 to West Virginia in the first round last season. Xavier has received votes in the Associated Press and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Polls this season.