HOUSTON – HCU fell behind by 21 early in the second quarter before clawing back to within three, thanks in part to a career-night from
Erin Maguire, before ultimately falling by a 61-51 final on Thursday evening in Sharp Gym.
The Cowgirls (7-8, 2-2 SLC) jumped out to an 8-0 lead before HCU (4-10, 1-4 SLC) got on the board thanks to a pair of
Erin Maguire free throws with 5:29 on the clock in the first quarter. The visitors then scored the next eight points to lead 16-2.
Kierra Prim made a driving layup to get the HCU offense going again and freshman
Madelyne Davis knocked down a three just ahead of the buzzer for an 18-7 game heading into the second quarter.
McNeese then opened the second with a 10-0 run to lead by 21, 28-7, just three minutes in. The Huskies then turned up the pressure defensively and over the final seven minutes of the half, forcing 12 turnovers and out-scoring McNeese, 11-2, to trail 30-18 at the half.
HCU came out and quickly trimmed its deficit to single digits thanks to a jumper by Maguire and a quick layup off a turnover by Prim. The Huskies cut it down to six a couple of minutes later on another Maguire jumper but Sydney McQuietor knocked down a jumper of her own on the next trip down the floor. Prim made a pair of free throws a minute later followed by a Maguire basket coming quickly off a
Hannah Fields steal to make it 36-32 with 5:22 to go in the third.
The visitors pushed their lead back up to seven a couple of times, including a 41-34 lead with 3:34 on the clock. Prim made a fast break layup almost a minute later with Maguire quickly drawing an offensive foul to regain possession.
Jo Oly dropped in a layup seconds later and HCU was within three, 41-38. Azjah Reeves answered for McNeese, connecting on a triple to double the lead but Prim scored her eighth points of the quarter on a layup just ahead of the buzzer with McNeese leading, 44-40.
In the fourth, McNeese pushed its lead back up to eight less than four minutes in before an Oly three pulled HCU back within three, 51-46, with 5:14 to play. Paris Guillory drained a three two minutes later to again make it an eight-point game with the Huskies only getting back to within seven the rest of the way.
Maguire ended the game with career-bests of 22 points and eight rebounds, connecting on 8-of-19 form the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. She also added three assists. Prim finished with 10 points, four rebounds and a career-high four steals. Oly added seven points, five rebounds and three steals while Tullis finished with seven rebounds and four steals.
The Huskies forced the Cowgirls into 34 turnovers, the most turnovers by an HCU opponent since the 2012-13 season when the Huskies forced 35 Jackson State miscues on Nov. 23, 2012. McNeese held a significant advantage on the boards, out-rebounded the Huskies by a 48-31 margin, however.
HCU finished the night shooting 25.4 percent (17-of-67) from the field while the Cowgirls connected at a 43.8 percent (21-of-48) clip. Guillory led the Cowgirls with 19 points as one of four players to score in double-figures.
HCU will be back on the court this Saturday, Jan. 11, when UIW visits Sharp Gym at 1:00 p.m. for game one of a doubleheader with the men following at 3:30 p.m.
