Texas A&M-Corpus Christi downs McNeese State in first round of Southland Women's Tourney

Story and Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 8, 2018) The No. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders jumped out to a one-point lead (18-17) after the first period and increased that lead to 37-24 at the half in route to a 75-52 win over the No. 8 McNeese State Cowgirls in the first game of the 2018 Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

TAMU-CC faced McNeese earlier in the season; dropping a 70-64 decision at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles Louisiana. The tournament win raised the Islanders record to 7-7 against the Cowgirls.

The win pushed the Islanders record to 19-11 for the season and sets up a quarterfinal game against No. 4 Nicholls State on Friday, March 9. 

With four ladies scoring in double figures,; Brittany Mbamalu (Dulles HS, Houston, Texas) set the pace for the Islanders with 22 points, followed by Kre'Ana Henry (Moberly Area CC, Toledo, Ohio) with 16 points, with Dae Dae Evans (Bellaire HS, Bellaire, Texas) and Emma Young (East Jessamine HS, Nicholasville, Kentucky) each chipping in 10. Henry also led the Islanders with nine rebounds.

For the Cowgirls, Dede Sheppard (North Caddo HS, Vivian, Louisiana) scored 20 points with Jasmyn Carswell (Airline HS, Bossier City, Louisiana) pulling down nine rebounds.

Corpus Christi outscored McNeese 24-10 in the third period with the Cowgirls taking the final period 18-12. The Islanders shot 38% from the field, 35% from three-point range and 85% from the line. McNeese countered with 32%  from the field, 35% from the arc and 70% from the line.