LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — McNeese State pulled away in the second quarter and defeated Nicholls State 62-51 in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Burton Coliseum. The Cowgirls outscored the Colonels 19-7 in the second period to build a 30-18 halftime lead. Nicholls State never recovered, despite cutting the deficit to six points in the fourth quarter. McNeese State forced 23 turnovers, converting them into 21 points. Jesslynn Jalomo led Nicholls State with 13 points. Lexi Alexander and Carley Hamilton each scored 12 for McNeese State, while Jalencia Pierre dished out nine assists. The Cowgirls improved to 11-4 overall, while the Colonels fell to 7-6.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge and a relentless defensive effort propelled the McNeese State Cowgirls to a 62-51 victory over the Nicholls State Colonels in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Burton Coliseum. A crowd of 2,442 saw the home team improve to 11-4 overall while Nicholls State dropped to 7-6. The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period. After a tightly contested first quarter ended in an 11-11 deadlock, McNeese State seized control with a 19-7 quarter. The Cowgirls’ defense was the catalyst, forcing eight Nicholls State turnovers in the period and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. McNeese State recorded 10 of its 17 total steals in the first half, consistently disrupting the Colonels’ offensive flow and building a 30-18 halftime advantage. Nicholls State, which struggled offensively all night, never fully recovered from that deficit. The Colonels shot just 36.2% from the floor and committed 23 turnovers, which McNeese State translated into 21 points. The Cowgirls, while shooting 34.8% themselves, were far more efficient in creating and capitalizing on chances, dishing out 17 assists on their 23 made field goals. McNeese State’s Jalencia Pierre, a 5-foot-5 guard from Springfield, Louisiana, orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing with a game-high nine assists to go with six points and three steals in 34 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Carley Hamilton of Shreveport, provided a critical scoring punch off the bench, netting 12 points, including two three-pointers. The Cowgirls’ frontcourt was anchored by Lexi Alexander of Round Rock, Texas. The 6-foot forward posted 12 points, two blocks and was a disruptive force defensively, tallying five steals. Her presence helped McNeese State to a 30-28 edge in points in the paint. Nicholls State showed brief signs of life after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 7-3 run to cut the lead to eight points. But McNeese State answered promptly, stabilizing its advantage and maintaining a double-digit lead for much of the second half. The Colonels got as close as nine points in the fourth quarter but could not string together enough stops to mount a serious threat. Jesslynn Jalomo led Nicholls State with 13 points, while Anyra Wilson of Monroe added 12 points and three assists. The Colonels’ leading scorer, however, was hampered by the Cowgirls’ defensive pressure, as Wilson committed five of her team’s turnovers. McNeese State’s depth proved significant, with its bench outscoring Nicholls State’s reserves 26-11. Contributions came from across the roster, including eight points and five rebounds from Dakota Howard of Shreveport and seven points from Allasia Washington of Baton Rouge. The victory extended McNeese State’s winning streak to three games as they continue a strong start to conference play. Nicholls State, coming off a loss to Northwestern State, has now dropped two of its last three. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, McNeese State entered the game with a 59.5% probability to win, a forecast validated by their defensive intensity and ability to capitalize on opponent mistakes. Both teams return to conference action Saturday. McNeese State will host Southeastern Louisiana, while Nicholls State travels to face New Orleans.

Preview: Nicholls State Colonels at McNeese State Cowgirls LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A Southland Conference women’s basketball matchup featuring two of the league’s top players will tip off Thursday when the Nicholls State Colonels visit the McNeese State Cowgirls at Burton Coliseum. McNeese State (10-4) enters with the stronger overall record and momentum from a 65-57 conference win over Lamar on Saturday. The Cowgirls have won three straight and seven of their last eight, with their only loss in that span a seven-point defeat to Northwestern State. The Cowgirls are led by standout Dakota Howard, who is averaging 17.6 points per game over her last five contests. Howard posted a versatile 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in the win over Lamar, following a 20-point performance against Incarnate Word on Dec. 29. Nicholls State (7-5) looks to bounce back from a narrow 50-46 home loss to Northwestern State last Saturday. The Colonels had won three consecutive games prior to that defeat. The Colonels will rely on forward Marie Kenembeni, who scored 12 points and blocked two shots in 33 minutes against Northwestern State. Kenembeni has been a consistent interior presence, including a 21-point, three-block outing in a win over Houston Christian on Dec. 18. This game marks the conference opener for both teams. McNeese State has shown a stout defense during its recent run, holding opponents to an average of 49.3 points over its last three victories. Nicholls State, which averages 66.8 points per game, will need to solve that defense to start league play on the road successfully. The matchup inside between Howard and Kenembeni could dictate the tempo. McNeese State’s supporting cast includes Jalencia Pierre, who added 14 points in the Lamar win. Nicholls State guard Tanita Swift, who played 38 minutes and scored 12 points last game, will be tasked with handling McNeese State’s backcourt pressure. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. McNeese State hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, while Nicholls State travels to face New Orleans.