McNeese State guard Zuzanna Kulinska drives against Houston Baptist guard Kennedy Wilson. (Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press)

Returning home, the McNeese State women’s team found a rude welcome waiting.

Back in the Legacy Center for the first time since March 4, 2020, the Cowgirls stumbled at key moments in the fourth quarter and Houston Baptist beat the Cowgirls 82-74 Saturday in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.

The Huskies used a surprising shooting performance from long range to drop McNeese to 5-10 while improving to 5-7. HBU, which entered the game making 27 percent of its 3-point tries, connected on 8 of 20 (40 percent).

“We are disappointed we didn’t get the win,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy. “It was really emotional coming out. We wanted to get this for the community.”

McNeese was outscored 47-37 in the second half.

“We can’t have that happen at home,” Kennedy said. “We were not consistent enough and it showed.”

Tamia Jefferson did most of the damage, finishing with a game- and career-high 28 points and making 11 of 12 free throws for the Huskies, who shot 91.7 percent from the foul line. Jefferson was consistently able to get to the basket and break down the McNeese defense.

N’Denasijia Collins had a double-double of 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as the Huskies won their first road game in six tries.

“At times we has some letdowns on our rotations on defense,” Kennedy said. “At times our defense was really good, at other times it wasn’t. We have to learn from this and move forward.”

With the score 66-62, Desirae Hansen was called for a foul and then hit with a technical. Jefferson made all four free throws to push the lead to eight with 6:11 remaining.

“That was a big call right there and changed momentum,” Kennedy said. “I don’t know what else I can say.”

McNeese rallied and had the deficit down to 74-71 Zuzanna Kulinska’s three-point play with 1:26 left. But Jefferson’s trey moments later proved too much to overcome.

Cristina Gil led the Cowgirls with 22 points while Kulinska finished with 16.

Kennedy Wilson’s 3 at the buzzer gave HBU a 56-53 lead after three quarters. That also ended an 8-0 Husky run.

Gil did the same before the half. She weaved her way through four defenders in the closing seconds and beat the buzzer with a layup to give the Cowgirls a 37-35 lead at the break.

Kulinska led the way for McNeese with 11 points at the break on 5-of-8 shooting.

Despite making 2 of 9 from behind the 3-point arc, the Cowgirls were able to hold the lead thanks to a 26-14 advantage in the paint.

McNeese didn’t take the lead until just under a minute left in the first quarter when Clara Rosini made a tradition 3-point play for a 20-19 lead.

Rosini’s play was part of an 11-2 run that the Cowgirls went on to finish the quarter up 22-19 despite being down by as many as seven.