HAMMOND, La. – A 24-point halftime deficit was too much for Southeastern Louisiana to overcome in a 77-65 loss to McNeese State in Southland Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the University Center.
 
The Lady Lions (1-15, 0-5 Southland) made just 14.3 percent (5-for-30) of their field goal attempts in the first half to dig a hole they couldn't get out of on the way to their 10^th straight loss. McNeese (7-10, 3-3 Southland) snapped a three-game losing skid with Saturday's road win.
 
Southeastern jumped out to a 6-3 lead to open the game, but then the visiting Cowgirls held SLU scoreless for the next seven minutes. McNeese closed the period on a 15-2 run to take a 16-8 lead after the opening quarter.
 
Southeastern pulled within five on a three-point play by sophomore guard Tyler Morrison with 7:21 left in the first half. However, McNeese scored the next 11 points to grow their lead to 31-15 with 5:05 left in the quarter. That run, plus a 9-0 spurt to end the half, put the Cowgirls ahead, 44-20, at the break.
 
The Lady Lions came out much better offensively in the third quarter, making 50 percent (9-for-18) of their field goal attempts in the period. A bucket by junior forward Kyla Williams pulled SLU within 58-42 heading into the final period.
 
Southeastern mounted a furious rally in the final minutes, as a layup by senior guard Taylin Underwood cut the McNeese lead to 73-65 with 51 second left. However, that would be the last points of the game for SLU, as the Lady Lions ran out of time on their comeback bid.
 
Underwood poured in a game-high 32 points, but was the lone Lady Lion in double figures. Morrison and junior guard Jaclyn Scholvin added seven points each. Junior forward Jyar Francis led Southeastern with eight rebounds, while Morrison also paced the squad with three steals.
 
McNeese countered with a much more balanced attack, as senior guard Dede Sheppard (17 points), sophomore guard Caitlin Davis (16 points), senior forward Jasmyn Carswell (14 points) and senior forward Shayln Riley (11 points) all topped double figures for the Cowgirls. Carswell led MSU with nine rebounds and four blocks, while Davis dished out a game-high four assists.
 
The Lady Lions will head to Houston Baptist for a 7 p.m. contest on Wednesday. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.