Using an inside power game, Prairie View roughed up the Cowgirls Sunday afternoon in the Legacy Center.

The Panthers improved to 2-0 on the young season with an 85-70 win over McNeese State. The loss dropped the Cowgirls to 1-1 as they get set to host three teams this weekend in a Multi-Team Event.

“We didn’t have the fight tonight,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy.

The Cowgirls allowed 66 points in the paint and turned the ball over 22 times, the same amount they had in the season opener.

Ryann Payne scored 18 points while Gerlyn Smith added 16 and 11 rebounds to lead the Panthers with most of those coming down low.

“They exploited our middle,” said Kennedy. “We allowed it too easy, especially in the first half. We were out of position too much.”

Mireia Yespes led the Cowgirls with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She was helped by a pair of freshmen as Azjah Reeves had 15 points while Boston Berry finished with 12.

McNeese actually started strong, grabbing an 8-2 before the Panthers went to their bench, which ended the night with 44 points. PVU took the lead after one quarter 19-15 behind 20 rebounds and eight second-chance points, a trend that would last all game.

Berry’s 3-point shot had McNeese within four, 36-32, with 1:21 before the half. But the Panthers scored the last six points of the second quarter and led 42-32 at the break.

“We let them get a bit of a bubble there on us,” said Kennedy. “We have to fight all the way to the half.”

Payne’s runner with 6:10 left in the third made it a 52-38 deficit for the Cowgirls as Prairie View started the second half on a 10-4 run. PVU led 64-50 lead into the fourth. 

McNeese’s last push came when Berry scored a quick five points to cut the lead to 77-68 with 3:30 remaining, but the Panthers scored the next four points to restore their lead.

McNeese will play Mississippi Valley State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Louisiana Monroe on three consecutive days to end the week during their MTE

“We just have to keep working to get better,” said Kennedy. “We are young but we can’t use that as an excuse.”.