HAMMOND, Louisiana – HCU women's basketball stormed all the way back after being down by as 24 in the first half, but lost late to the Southeastern Lions Thursday night in the University Center.
 
HCU (6-7, 1-1 SLC) couldn't stop an early run by Southeastern (7-5, 2-0 SLC) who quickly jumped out to a 24-10 lead in the first quarter, knocking down 9-of-13 shots in the period. The second quarter was much of the same as the Huskies fell silent from the field while the Lions scored 16 points on 50 percent shooting. 
 
The Huskies came out of halftime playing inspired basketball. Enya Maguire knocked down a three ball fresh off the break before consecutive buckets from Marilyn Nzoiwu, Amy Cotton, and N'Denasija Collins found the Huskies trailing by just 16. Defense quickly turned to offense for HCU in the third. Beginning at the four minute mark, the Huskies forced nine consecutive missed shots from the Lions and cut the lead to nine. During that span Maguire continued knocking down shots including two from distance and a mid-range jumper.
 
HCU forced SLU into a timeout with two minutes left in the third. The Lions responded out of the quick pause by forcing three misses from the Huskies and converting on two-of-three opportunities of their own to stretch their lead back to 13 heading to the final period.
 
Nzoiwu scored three quick points on an and-one layup to open the fourth and cut the Husky deficit to 10. The teams traded buckets for several minutes before Alexius Horne knocked down a three pointer at the 5:46 mark to extend the Lions lead back to 13.
 
Led defensively by Cotton and Collins, the Huskies held the Lions to just two made shots over the final five and a half minutes. Nzoiwu took over offensively, making another and-one layup and knocked down a midrange jumper as HCU chipped the lead down to eight. Then, Cotton took a Maguire steal the other way and knocked down her first three ball of the game, getting the Huskies within five.
 
Down five with just over a minute left Cotton drove to the rim and dumped a pass off to Nzoiwu who knocked down another jump shot in the paint. Just like that the Huskies found themselves down just one possession. Another strong defensive stand from HCU forced the Lions into a bad look from three. HCU called a timeout to advance the ball to their own front court with a chance to tie things up with a three pointer. Unfortunately, HCU would turn the ball over with just over 30 second left before getting off a shot to tie the game.
 
Electing not to foul and force free throws, the Huskies played tough on ball defense and forced a turnover with five seconds left. A collision at half court saw the Lions regain possession and make the game sealing layup with just seconds left. In the end, HCU's heroic efforts fell just a possession short as the Lions snuck by with a 63-58 win.
 
Maguire led all Huskies with 17 points including five made threes. Nzoiwu had her best offensive game of the year, knocking down 16 points and grabbing five boards. Collins barely missed a double-double with 12 points and eight boards. Cotton had her most impressive game of her young career with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting with four steals. Lauryn Mapusua played a season high 26 minutes. She gathered six boards, dished out four assists, and had a pair of blocks.
 
Hailey Giaratano led three Lions in double-figures with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting while Natalie Kelly had a game high 11 rebounds.
 
HCU hits the road for their second conference road game of the season against New Orleans in the Big Easy Saturday afternoon.