The Cowgirls found a lump of coal in their stockings Saturday as they limped their way into the holiday break.

Behind 34 points from Jakoriah Long, Tarleton State took the cheer out of McNeese State with an 88-64 win in the Legacy Center.

Long hit on 11 of 13 shots from the floor and 9 of 10 from the free throw line to keep any hope of a late McNeese comeback at bay. She also was 3 of 4 from the 3-point line.

“Long really stepped it up,” said Kennedy. “Their second and third teams really came up big for them. Give Tarleton credit.”

The loss dropped McNeese to 4-8 with one game left before Southland Conference play begins in the new year. The Texans improved to 3-6.

“We should be able to compete with Tarleton and tonight we didn’t,” said Kennedy.

Any chance of a McNeese comeback seven minutes to go. An intentional foul was called on Cowgirl Mireia Yespes and Long turned that into a quick eight points right after with a pair of threes and free throws to put the Texans up 80-55. 

That was the big part of a 12-0 Tarleton run that doomed McNeese.

“That changed the momentum,” said Kennedy. “It was a huge swing.”

Emilia Tenbrock was the only Cowgirl to finish in double figures with 22 points. She added seven rebounds and four assists to her stat sheet.

Azjah Reeves had seven points in the first quarter to help McNeee recover from a slow start to tie the game at 15 after one. She, however, didn’t score again as foul trouble hampered her day.

The Cowgirls had 10 turnovers in the first quarter, eighth on their first nine possessions, but managed to have the lead before Long hit a jumper at the buzzer to even the game.

“The bad start was frustrating but I was happy to see us recover,” said Kennedy. “But we have to be able to carry that over and keep going.”

McNeese couldn’t as Long led the Texans to a 44-32 lead at the break.

“We have to be better defensively, we have to be better moving our feet and keep them in front of us,” said Kennedy. “We have the quickness and athleticism to stay with them, we just didn’t do it tonight.”

McNeese will take the next two weeks off before returning back to the court on New Year’s Eve. Then they will take on Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 1 p.m. inside the Legacy Center.

Kennedy said they will practice the next few days before giving the players time off for Christmas and return right after for workouts.

In other McNeese basketball news, Sunday’s 3 p.m. game between the Cowboys and rival Louisiana-Lafayette is officially a sell out. Only standing room tickets are left for to see the 9-2 Pokes take on the 6-4 Cajuns.