HUNTSVILLE ? Courtnee Hollins scored 28 points including six three-point baskets to lead McNeese State to a 79-56 victory over Sam Houston State in the Southland Conference women's basketball opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Johnson Coliseum.
Three other Cowgirls scored in double figures as Shante Perry added 19 points, Brittany Boone 14 and Conceita Cutrer 12.
Brittany Brooks and Whitney Smith led Sam Houston State with 13 points each. Lydia Gonzales scored 12 points and pulled down a career high 18 rebounds.
McNeese State (3-12, SLC 1-0) jumped out to a 12-1 lead to start the contest, but the Bearkats rallied to take a five-point lead, 26-21, on a jumper by Smith with 5:33 to play before halftime.
But the Cowgirls finished the first half with a 17-0 run to go up 38-26 at halftime.
The run continued for McNeese as the Cowgirls started the second period with a 15-0 to go up 53-26 with 14:17 to play. The largest McNeese lead was 31 points, 64-33 with 8:24 to play.
Sam Houston State falls to 1-13 for the year and 0-1 in Southland action.
Box Score
MCNEESE ST 79, SAM HOUSTON ST 56
MCNEESE ST (3-12, SLC 1-0)
Hollins, Courtnee' 10-16 2-3 28; Perry, Shante' 7-17 2-2 19; Boone, Brittany
6-10 2-2 14; Cutrer, Conceita 6-14 0-0 12; Lopez, Lenissa 0-1 5-6 5; Davis,
Reeshimah 0-1 1-2 1; Klutarich, Joanna 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-59 12-15 79.
SAM HOUSTON ST (1-13, SLC 0-1)
Smith, Whitney 5-12 2-6 13; Brooks, Brittany 5-16 1-2 13; Gonzales, Lydia
4-13 4-6 12; Sanders, Katie 2-5 0-0 6; Ailshie, Leasa 2-7 0-0 5; Harris,
Britney 2-4 0-0 5; Ford, Kristin 1-4 0-0 2; Bennett, LaToya 0-2 0-0 0;
Texada, Shlundria 0-4 0-0 0; Hartley, Ausha 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 21-69 7-14 56.
McNeese St.................... 38 41 - 79
Sam Houston St................ 26 30 - 56
3-point goals--McNeese St 9-17 (Hollins, Courtnee' 6-10; Perry, Shante' 3-5;
Boone, Brittany 0-2), Sam Houston St 7-26 (Brooks, Brittany 2-10; Sanders,
Katie 2-4; Smith, Whitney 1-2; Harris, Britney 1-1; Ailshie, Leasa 1-6;
Texada, Shlundria 0-2; Gonzales, Lydia 0-1). Fouled out--McNeese St-None,
Sam Houston St-None. Rebounds--McNeese St 36 (Perry, Shante' 9), Sam Houston
St 48 (Gonzales, Lydia 18). Assists--McNeese St 25 (Lopez, Lenissa 9), Sam
Houston St 18 (Ailshie, Leasa 7). Total fouls--McNeese St 18, Sam Houston St
16. Technical fouls--McNeese St-None, Sam Houston St-None. A-256
