McNeese Cowgirls serve up victory in Southland Conference clash

By Chris Price
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (October 28, 2023)  The McNeese Cowgirls volleyball team ended their week on a high note with an impressive 3-1 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce in the Southland Conference. 

The Cowgirls, with a record of 13-14 overall and 11-3 in the Southland Conference, outshined their opponents. The match saw an intense battle with both teams fighting for control, but McNeese's trio of McKenzie Moore, Carissa Chainey, and Tshilanda Diouf shone bright, all recording double-digit kills. Moore led the way with an outstanding 13 kills, while Chainey and Diouf contributed 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Notably, Diouf finished the game with an incredible .714 hitting percentage, making 14 attempts without a single error.

In the back row, Bailey Tillman and Kendall Osgood proved to be invaluable assets for McNeese. Tillman, with her 18 digs, showcased her defensive prowess and even entered the Top 10 in McNeese career digs with a total of 1,242. Osgood also displayed her skill with 15 digs, marking her seventh match with double-digit digs this season.

The match unfolded in four sets, with each team displaying remarkable resilience. McNeese started strong, with the first set showcasing a back-and-forth struggle until the Cowgirls, led by Sanni Rantanen's powerful serves, secured a convincing lead. They eventually won the set with consecutive kills from Diouf.

In the second set, the Lions of A&M-Commerce made an early lead, but the Cowgirls clawed their way back into the game, tying the set at 10 all and eventually claiming the victory with Chainey's fierce serving and Moore's crucial kill.

The third set brought suspense as McNeese aimed for a straight-set win, but A&M-Commerce managed to steal the set with a late surge. However, McNeese stormed ahead in the fourth set, securing an early lead and ultimately closing out the match with Chainey's 12th kill.

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY (July 17, 2023) McNeese Volleyball was one of 201 collegiate teams to earn The Unites States Marine Corps/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2022-23 season, the organization recently announced.

The award, initiated in the 1992–93 academic year, honors volleyball teams that maintain a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale.  The award marks the ninth time McNeese has earned the award with the last coming in 2018.

As a team, the Cowgirls posted a 3.48 cumulative GPA for the year with 13 student-athletes earning at least a 3.0 GPA or better.  Senior Lizzy Low was the only Cowgirl to post a perfect 4.0 GPA. 

McNeese Softball advances to Regional Championship game with win over Minnesota

Photo courtesy of McNeese Athletics Communications

SEATTLE, WASINGTON (May 21, 2023) For the second straight year, McNeese softball is headed to the regional championship game after a 1-0 win over Minnesota late Saturday night.  The Cowgirls (46-15) will face the No. 7 overall ranked team in the nation and the regionals No. 1 seed Washington (40-12) at 3 p.m. (CT) Sunday.  The Cowgirls must defeat the Huskies twice if they want to advance to their first Super Regionals in program history.

Freshman Corine Poncho took advantage of her first start in the regional tournament and provided the game winning RBI in the second inning with a two out single through the left side that scored Mariana Torres from second.  Torres reach base on a one out walk then moved into scoring position on a ground out by Rylie Bouvier.

Ashley Vallejo (19-8) tossed another gem and picked up her seventh shutout of the season.  The shutout by the Cowgirls is the first shutout by a Southland Conference in the NCAA Tournament since 2009.

Vallejo allowed six hits with three strikeouts, and one walk.  The three strikeouts marked 300 for her career.

The other Cowgirl hit of the game came from Chloe Gomez who singled up the middle in the third inning.

Minnesota (38-19) used three pitchers in the game with starter Jacie Hambrick taking the loss to fall to 7-7 on the year.  Hambrick allowed one earned run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout in 2.0 innings.

McNeese State softball punches ticket to NCAA Tournament

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (May 13, 2023) Fans are invited to join the 2023 Southland Conference Tournament Softball Champions, McNeese Cowgirls at Mr. Bill’s Seafood Express on Sunday, May 14 for the NCAA Selection Show that will begin at 6 p.m. (CST) on ESPN2.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The 64-team double-elimination bracket that spreads among 16 regional locations will take place May 19-21.

The Sixteen regional winners will then advance to the super regional, a two-team, best-of-three style format held either May 25-27, or May 26-28.

The eight super regional winners earn spots in the 2023 Women's College World Series that begins on Thursday, June 1. The WCWS begins in double-elimination format, before the final two teams play a best-of-three series for the national championship.

McNeese (44-14) earned the Southland’s automatic bid with a 1-0 (8 inning) win over Southeastern on Saturday to advance to its ninth NCAA Tournament.

Cowgirls Drop SLC Opener Against Lamar

BEAUMONT, TEXAS (December 31, 2022)  McNeese women’s basketball jumped out to an early four point lead but Lamar caught fire from three-point range on its way to an 82-61 Southland Conference opening win here Saturday.

The loss drops McNeese to 3-9 overall and 0-1 in league play while Lamar improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the SLC.

Stephanie Guihon was the only Cowgirl to score in double figures, ending the game with 17 points.  Thirteen of Guihon’s 17 points came from the free throw line as she finished the game making 13 of 15 from the charity stripe.

McNeese was held to a 33.9 shooting percent (19-56) including 18.8 percent (3-16) from three-point range while Lamar ended the game shooting 44.1 percent (30-68) and a blistering 54.5 three-point percent (12-22).

The Cardinals also outrebounded the Cowgirls 44-38, something McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy said the Cowgirls needed to improve on.  Turnovers have also been an issue for the Cowgirls this season. McNeese turned the ball over 18 times in the game resulting in 24 Lamar points.

Lamar had three players score in double figures with Sabrina Dean leading all players with a game high 20 points.  Dean was 8 of 13 from the field and 3 of 4 from behind the arc.  Akasha Davis chipped in 16 points and Portia Adams ended the game with 12 points, all coming from three-point range.

McNeese will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 5 to host Northwestern State in its SLC home opener. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at the Legacy Center.

HBU Huskies advanced in SLC Tournament with 74-60 win over McNeese State

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 10, 2021) Paced  by the 20 points of Jilija Vujakovic, the No. 8 HBU Huskies downed the number nine ranked McNeese State Cowgirls by the score of 74-60 to advance to the second round of the 2021 Hercules Tires Southland Conference  Women's Basketball Tournament.

Those in attendance at the Leonard E. Merrell Center saw three Huskies join Vujakovic, who hails from Bereldange, Luxembourg, connect for double digit scoring.   

N'Denasija Collins (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) tallied 18 points, with Timia Jefferson (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) adding 16, and Kennedy Wilson (Timberview HS, Mansfield, Texas) chipping in 10. Head coach Donna Finnie only played eight players in the game, with the four mentioned above accounting for 64 of the Husky's 74 points.

Divine Tanks  (Barbe HS, Lake Charles, LA) and Shaela Gardner (Chipola College, Memphis, TN) led the Cowgirls with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Next up for the Huskies, in the second round, will be the number five ranked Central Arkansas Sugar Bears. The Sugar Bears received a first-round bye in the tournament, with their last game being a 45-40 loss to Northwestern State on March 6. Central Arkansas and HBU did not play each other this season; having last played on January 1, 2020. In that matchup, the Sugar Bears came out on top by the score of 63-39.

Houston Cougars drop McNeese Cowgirls 7-0 in collegiate tennis

Photo courtesy of
University of Houston
Athletic Communications
Used with Permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 17, 2021) The Houston Cougars women’s tennis team rolled over the McNeese State Cowgirls by the score of 7-0 at the Barbara Wallace Winston Tennis Facility on Sunday afternoon.

 

The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead when the duo of Mimi Kendall-Woseley and Phonexay Chitdara down the Cowgirls 6-1 in doubles play. Following a 6-2 win from Blanca Cortijo Parreño and Azul Pedmonti, Houston completed their sweep in doubles competition with a 7-5 victory by Laura Slisane and Gabriello Giraldo

 

Pedemonti (6-1, 6-2) and Cortijo Parreño (6-1, 6-0) extended the Cougars lead with singles wins (6-3, 6-3) victory. Chitdara followed her with a (6-2, 6-0) sweep of her own to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead.

 

Giraldo then collected a additiona; singles win for the Cougars, as her (6-4, 6-0) win put the team score to 6-0. Kendall-Woseley capped off the 7-0 victory with her (6-2, 6-0) win.

With the team win, the Cougars improve their all-time record to 8-0 against the Cowgirls. Sunday’s victory also marked Houston’s fourth consecutive home-opening win.

 

McNeese State Cowgirls upend Central Arkansas Sugar Bears to kickoff Southland Conference schedule

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (January 2, 2021) The McNeese State Cowgirls kicked off their 2021 Southland Conference schedule by downing the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears by the score of 59-45 at Burton Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. The Cowgirls (1-7) suited up only eight players, with everyone seeing action, due to injuries. 

McNeese jumped out to a 14-6 lead after 10 minutes of play; increasing their lead t0 35-15 at the half. The Sugar Bears mounted a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring McNeese 17-10. The fourth period saw -the Cowgirls hold on for a one-point advantage (14-13) to secure the win. Starting guard Kyla Hamilton (No. 12, shown above) topped the scoring with 15 points while pulling down seven rebounds; all of them on defense.

Fellow starting guards Claralee Richard  and Mychala Linzy also scored in double figures; 13 and 11 respectively. Jayla Cody came off the bench to lead the scoring for the Sugar Bears, with nine points.  Ayanna Trigg led the way in rebounds with eight (five on offense, three on defense).

Statistically, the Sugar Bears led scoring in the paint (28-22), second chance points (15-3) and off the bench scoring (19-10) and rebounds (51-25). McNeese held the edge in fast break points (21-0), field goal shooting (38%-29%), three-pointers (35%-12%) and free throws (70%-58%), and steals (17-6). The Cowgirls led the entire game, with their largest lead, 22 points, coming at the 8:52 mark of the third quarter.

Next up for McNeese is a Saturday, January 9 meeting against Northwestern State, with tip off scheduled for 1 p.m. CST at Burton Coliseum. The Sugar Bears will travel to New Orleans with a 7 p.m. start against the Privateers, on Wednesday, January 6.