Cowgirls bounce back with Divine performance
Published 9:37 am Sunday, February 6, 2022
- McNeese State forward Divine Tanks shoots over Northwestern State center Jordan Todd during a Southland Conference game Saturday afternoon. Tanks, a junior from Barbe High, recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. (Rick Hickman / American Press)
Showing no sign of heartbreak hangover, the Cowgirls finished their season-long, four-game homestead in style Saturday.
Using a big game from the bench, McNeese State rolled to a 77-60 win over Northwestern State, sending the Demons to their fourth consecutive loss.
The victory came two days after the Cowgirls (9-11, 4-3 Southland) suffered a one-point loss at the hands of conference-leader Southeastern Louisiana. The Cowgirls have won four of their last five games.
“That game put a fire in us,” said junior forward Divine Tanks. “It made us 10 times hungrier.”
The victory kept McNeese alone in fourth place at the halfway mark of the league schedule.
The top four teams receive at least one bye in the SLC postseason tournament.
“I love how we responded,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy. “You don’t want to have a letdown after that game.”
McNeese was led by freshman Kaili Chamberlin who finished with a game-high 18 points. Cristina Gil scored 11. Le’Shenae Stubblefield led the bench attack with a season-high 16 as the Cowgirls outscored the Demon subs 25-6.
“Loved how our bench stepped up today,” Kennedy said. “They were able to maintain the lead.”
Tanks finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. She was a plus-19 points while on the floor.
“Divine had a great game today,” Kennedy said. “If she plays like that, we can beat anybody.”
A 6-0 run to start the third quarter gave McNeese breathing room. The Cowgirls led 58-50 after three and, after Desirae Hansen scored with 2:27 remaining, McNeese owned it’s largest lead at 74-56.
Chamberlin’s 3-point bank shot at the end of the first half started a 9-0 Cowgirls run and had the lead 42-38 at the break.
“That was big for us and gave us momentum,” Chamberlin said. “It gave us confidence heading into halftime.”
After racing to a 13-point first-quarter lead, the Cowgirls struggled with foul trouble. Zuzanna Kulinska and Hansen both picked up their second fouls early and were limited to just over 11 minutes combine on the floor.
Tanks played 8 before collecting her fourth foul.
Northwestern State (9-9, 2-5) was led by Monette Bolden’s first career double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Todd and Candice Parramore added 13 points apiece.
