LAKE CHARLES, La. – Southeastern Louisiana University outscored McNeese, 18-10, in overtime on the way to a 72-64 victory in Southland Conference women's basketball action Thursday night in the Legacy Center.
SLU (14-8, 9-3 SLC)) extended its win streak to three games with the victory over the host Cowgirls (9-14, 6-6 SLC). The victory, combined with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's 55-52 loss to HCU, moves the Lady Lions into a share of the Southland lead with the Islanders. Southeastern holds the tiebreaker over TAMU-CC due to winning both meetings.
Southeastern led by as many as 14 in the first half, but McNeese cut the lead to nine at the break. A 21-13 third quarter for the Cowgirls cut the lead to one heading into the final quarter.
Neither team led by more than three in the final period. A three by Cristina Gil put McNeese ahead, 54-51, with 1:15 left in regulation.
After the teams traded empty possessions, Southeastern had one more chance.
Hailey Giaratano launched a three that was off the mark, but Dijone Flowers was in position to clean up the glass. Flowers kicked it right back to Giaratano, who made the most of her second chance and buried a game-tying three with six seconds left. McNeese's Paris Mullins missed a potential game-winning jumper to send the game to overtime.
Desirae Hansen gave McNeese a brief lead with a three at the start of the overtime period, but
Cierria Cunningham answered with a triple of her own to ignite the game-clinching 9-0 run. After a stop on the next trip, Cunningham hit another jumper to put Southeastern ahead for good.
Back-to-back baskets by
Chrissy Brown and Giaratano extended the lead to 63-57 with 1:38 remaining. McNeese would get no closer than four the rest of the way, as Cunningham hit a three, then Giaratano and
Alexius Horne combined to go 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to close out the victory.
Giaratano led Southeastern with 23 points, while Cunningham added 15 – including eight in overtime. Brown posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while
Natalie Kelly pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds to fuel SLU's dominant 51-36 rebounding advantage. Kelly also led SLU's defensive effort with four blocked shots and four steals.
Hansen led the Cowgirls with 13 points, while Le'Shenae Stubblefield added 10. Divine Tanks contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for McNeese.
Southeastern will return home Saturday to host Nicholls at 1 p.m. in the University Center. The game will air on ESPN+ and live stats will be available via the women's basketball schedule page at
www.LionSports.net.
Fans will have the opportunity to receive postgame autographs from their favorite Lady Lions following Saturday's game. Cunningham will be Saturday's Spotlight Player of the Game and the first 150 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native courtesy of PRIDE.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on Twitter, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit
www.LionSports.net/clear.
