Live AudioLive VideoLive StatsGame NotesLAKE CHARLES, La. – HBU women's basketball begins a stretch of three road games in six days with a Monday tilt at McNeese State. Tip-off is set for a 5:30 pm start.
McNeese State leads the all-time series, 3-1. The teams split the season series last season, with the home team winning each time. The Cowgirls won the first meeting, 66-62, Jan. 18 in Lake Charles, while HBU won the regular season finale, 77-67, March 8 in Houston.
HBU (6-6 overall, 0-1 SLC) lost its first game of the season when leading at halftime, when the Huskies dropped their conference opener, 78-68, to reigning SLC tournament champions Northwestern State Friday afternoon. HBU led, 33-31, at halftime, but was outscored, 47-35, in the second half.
Monet Neal had a phenomenal game for HBU, as she scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed a season-best 18 rebounds, one shy of tying her career mark set last season at Lamar.
Rachel Arthur finished with six points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Shanice Steenholdt continues to lead the conference with 18.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. She is shooting 56 percent from the floor, is tied for the team lead of 16 steals with
Tayler Jefferson, and is second with 14 blocks. Jefferson averages 11.7 points per game and leads the Huskies with 49 assists, 18 three-pointers made, and a 79.5 free-throw percentage.
McNeese State (7-5 overall, 1-0 SLC) opened conference play with a 73-67 victory against visiting Stephen F. Austin Saturday. Jalyn Johnson (25) and Allison Baggett (22) each had 20-plus point games. Johnson went 14-for-14 from the line. The Cowgirls shot 88 percent (22-of-25) from the free throw line in the game.
For the season, Baggett leads McNeese State with 17.1 points per game, while Johnson follows with 12.1. Both players have a team-best 13 steals, while Johnson has a team-best 45 assists. Talisa Boyd has pulled down a squad-high 6.2 rebounds.
After Monday's contest, HBU continues east to play at Nicholls Thursday at 6 pm before concluding the road trip Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana at 4:30 pm.
