Photo GalleryHOUSTON – Despite a huge game from junior forward
Monet Neal, HBU women's basketball turned the ball over 20 times and allowed nine 3-pointers, as visiting Northwestern State defeated the Huskies, 78-68, Friday afternoon in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
Neal set a new career high with 28 points for HBU (6-6 overall, 0-1 SLC), as she shot 11-of-15 from the floor and 6-of-12 from the charity stripe. She finished one rebound away from tying her career mark, as she had with a season-best 18 boards.
Tayler Jefferson scored 17 points, as she was 5-of-8 from the floor, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the line. HBU shot 49 percent from the floor in the game.
Janelle Perez also had a career high, as she scored 30 points for Northwestern State (6-6 overall, 1-0 SLC), as she went 9-of-17 from the floor, 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Chelsea Rogers scored 19 points, as she led all players with five 3-pointers made. Keisha Lee also finished with double figures, with 11 points. The Lady Demons shot 43 percent from the floor in the game.
HBU started the game taking a 6-0 lead on back-to-back treys by Jefferson. Perez's long ball cut the deficit in half, 6-3, three-and-a-half minutes into the game.
With HBU leading by five, 11-6, Northwestern State used an 11-2 run to take a four-point lead, 17-13, at the halfway point of the opening half.
The Huskies battled back and tied the game at 20-all, then went on take a four-point lead, 27-23, outscoring the Lady Demons, 14-6, in the process. Rogers tied the game at 31-all with a three-pointer with 51 seconds to go, but the Huskies went down and scored the go-ahead basket, as Neal had an offensive board and a put-back with 32 ticks left to give HBU a 33-31 lead at the break.
Neal had a double-double at halftime, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies shot 48 percent in the first half. Perez led all players with 16 points, as Northwestern State shot 41 percent.
HBU opened the second half on an 8-2 run, as the Huskies held its largest lead of the game, 41-33, with 16:05 remaining in the game. A layup by
Erin McGarrachan culminated the run.
HBU held a two-possession lead for a couple of minutes before Northwestern State went on a 15-6 run to take a one-point lead, 48-46, following a steal and jumper by Lee at the 11:04-mark.
A made free throw by Neal gave the Huskies a three-point advantage, 58-55, with just under seven minutes remaining in the game, but back-to-back three-pointers by Rogers turned a three-point deficit to a three-point advantage for the Lady Demons, 61-58.
Despite a jumper by Neal that cut the deficit to one, those long balls sparked a 17-10 run in the final 6:33 to end the game. The Lady Demons went 10-of-12 from the line in the final two minutes to seal the win.
Neal led all players with 17 second-half points, as HBU shot 50 percent from the floor. Perez and Rogers both scored 14 points for Northwestern State, as the Lady Demons shot 44 percent from the floor.
HBU hits the road for the next three conference games, beginning Monday, Jan. 5 at McNeese State. Tipoff is set for a 5:30 pm start.
