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Game Highlights/Press Conference
2017 Tournament Central
KATY, Texas – A dominating effort from Frederica Haywood helped push sixth-seed McNeese past Nicholls 79-58 in the second opening round game of the Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Merrell Center on Thursday afternoon. The Cowgirls advance to a Friday afternoon second-round matchup against third-seeded Stephen F. Austin at 1:30 p.m. SFA won the previous meeting, earning a 96-65 win at Burton Coliseum on Jan. 2.
Haywood scored 14 points and pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds in a game where, at one point in the fourth quarter, Haywood had more boards than the entire Nicholls team. McNeese possessed a dominating 61-23 edge on the glass and had as many offensive rebounds (23) as the Colonels were able to manage overall as a team.
“I’m really proud of the effort and energy we brought today,” said McNeese head coach Kacie Cryer, who earned her first tournament win. “I thought the kids came focused and ready to go. Today was the best we’ve played in a long time.”
All five Cowgirls (14-16) starters scored in double figures as Amber Donnes put up 13 points, while Mercedes Rogers added 12. Caitlin Davis and Victoria Rachal each chipped in ten points for McNeese.
Much of the Cowgirls success came from being able to push the tempo against the Colonels (10-20), a sharp contrast to the Feb. 18 meeting where Nicholls forced 30 turnovers in a 59-52 loss. With their ability to create opportunities in transition, McNeese outscored Nicholls by a 14-3 margin in fast break points.
“We knew it was going to be tough, but the nerves were still there,” said Rogers. “We knew what we had to do to win.”
Despite shooting just under 42 percent from the field in the first quarter, Nicholls, which held a five-point lead in the first ten minutes, stayed in the contest before the lack of accuracy began to wear on them in the second period.
Trailing only 19-15, the Colonels were held scoreless for the first 6:31 of the quarter as the Cowgirls scored ten straight points before a pair of free throws from Cassidy Barrios finally put Nicholls back on the scoreboard.
The Colonels nearly went the entire quarter without a field goal until Hope Pawlowski’s layup with 52 seconds before intermission helped them inch within 35-21 at the half.
Any hope for a dramatic rally for Nicholls left early in the third quarter as McNeese expanded the margin to 44-23 on a triple from Victoria Rachal. The Colonels could not pull the deficit to within 20 points and trailed 53-31 entering the final ten minutes of play.
“McNeese was in a great place today,” said Nicholls head coach Dobee Plaisance. “We obviously struggled a bit on the boards today, but outside of that, I have so much admiration for this team. This team this year has been one of the most inspiring for me to coach.”
Third Team All-Conference guard Barrios led Nicholls with 17 points, while Emani White scored 13 in her final game with the Colonels. Tia Charles added ten for Nicholls, who made their sixth straight trip to the conference tournament.