- McNeese guard Boston Berry drives into the lane against St. Thomas on Wednesday night. (Kirk Meche/Special to American Press)
With a few changes to the starting lineup, the Cowgirls started their attack and earned an easy win on Wednesday night.
Four players scored in double figures as McNeese State toppled St. Louis. Thomas of Texas 81-43 inside the Legacy Center.
Sophomore Boston Berry led McNeese, finishing with a game-high 15 points as the Cowgirls improved to 4-3, breaking a 3-game losing streak. Celtic fell to 2-2.
“I was a little more aggressive,” said Berry, who started and played nearly 20 minutes.”
Berry hit five of his nine shots from the floor, including 2 of 4 from long range. He also made 3 of 4 free throws.
As a team, the Cowgirls shot 51.6 percent from the floor (33-64) and out-rebounded St. Louis. Thomas 48-29.
“I thought we came out and responded strongly,” McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy said. “We were locked in defensively.”
Berry wasn’t the only sophomore guard to start. Azjah Reeves also got off to a fast start and finished with 10 points.
The duo were starting guards last year for McNeese when they were freshmen.
“It was just something new to change things up,” Kennedy said of the initial change. “Sometimes you do that to keep things from getting stale.”
The change worked as McNeese took a 9-0 lead and never looked back. The score improved to 24-7 at the end of the first quarter and 39-17 at the half.
Freshman Lyla Kahrimanovic finished with 13 points and Kyla Davis added 11 for the Cowgirls. Overall 11 McNeese players scored in the game.
“We are learning and growing,” Kennedy said. “We keep figuring it out and getting better.”
McNeese used a big third quarter to put the game away, as junior college transfer Avery Young hit two free throws with the second remaining to give the Cowgirls a 63-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Young, who played the most minutes, finished with five points, three assists and two rebounds.
“Avery was battling an injury, but I told him to go out there and have fun,” Kennedy said.
McNeese will take next week off before traveling to Virginia to play in the Shirley Duncan Classic starting Dec. 6.
The Cowgirls will open the Multi-Team Event with a game against William and Mary. They will play three games in three days before heading to Oklahoma State on December 16.
