Once again, a big run proved to be the difference for the struggling Cowgirls.

Using an 11-2 run in the second quarter, Incarnate Word handed McNeese State its 17th straight loss Saturday in the Legacy Center.

Hitting five straight three-pointers and making 7 of 8 in the second quarter, the Cardinals broke open a close game early and ran off with a 61-48 victory. UIW improved to 17-9 overall and 10-5 in the Southland Conference with the win.

McNeese fell to 4-24, 0-15, and has yet to beat a Division I opponent.

“We make one mistake and it becomes two, three four,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy. “We have to be able to change momentum right there.”

The Cowgirls, who battled back from an early 11-2 deficit to cut the lead to 15-14 early in the second quarter, then had the Cardinals score 25-10 the rest of the first half. They led 40-24 at the break.

“We missed some open shots and they didn’t,” said Kennedy. “We have to fight back in those situations to stop the runs.”

McNeese outscored the Cardinals 24-21 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough.

“We fell too far back again,” said Kennedy. “I like our fight but we have to find a way not to let teams go on those runs. We have to stop them.”

Cowgirl Mireia Yespes led all scorers with 23 points while Emilia Tenbrock added 12. But UIW finished with 10 three-pointers while McNeese only made 2 of 15.

Aliyah Collins had 15 to lead the Cardinals.