LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — The McNeese State Cowgirls used a dominant second quarter and overwhelming defensive pressure to defeat the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 72-55 in a women’s basketball game Saturday at Burton Coliseum. McNeese State forced 29 turnovers, converting them into 40 points, to pull away. The Cowgirls outscored the Islanders 24-9 in the second period to take control. Arianna Patton led McNeese State with 21 points. Marissa Shelton scored 20 points for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and K’Nari Holliday added 18. The victory improved McNeese State to 24-4 overall and clinched at least a share of the Southland Conference regular-season title. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi fell to 5-21. An announced crowd of 3,102 attended.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — The McNeese State Cowgirls used a dominant second-quarter surge fueled by a relentless defensive effort to overpower the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 72-55 in a Southland Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Burton Coliseum. The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period, where McNeese State transformed a tight contest into a commanding lead. After trailing 19-15 at the end of the first quarter, the Cowgirls unleashed a 24-9 run in the second. The catalyst was a suffocating full-court press that completely disrupted the Islanders’ offense. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi committed 10 turnovers in the quarter alone, which McNeese State converted into 14 points. The Cowgirls closed the half on a 19-4 run over the final 6:34 to take a 39-28 lead into the break, a margin they would not relinquish. The statistical disparity told the story of McNeese State’s defensive dominance. The Cowgirls forced 29 total Islander turnovers, translating them into a staggering 40 points. McNeese State also recorded 24 steals, led by the backcourt pressure of Jalencia Pierre and the team’s collective activity in passing lanes. Conversely, the Islanders managed only six points off 10 McNeese State turnovers. The Cowgirls also shared the ball efficiently, finishing with 24 assists on 26 made field goals. Arianna Patton led all scorers for McNeese State with 21 points, including three three-pointers. Jalencia Pierre added 13 points and three assists, while Avari Berry provided 11 points off the bench. The Cowgirls, who improved to 24-4 overall and solidified their position atop the conference, also got nine points and three rebounds from Dakota Howard. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, which fell to 5-21, was led by the duo of Marissa Shelton and K’Nari Holliday. Shelton, a guard from South Bend, Indiana, scored a team-high 20 points to go with five rebounds in 40 minutes. Holliday, a forward from Apopka, Florida, added 18 points and seven rebounds. Chelsea Wooten contributed eight points for the Islanders. Despite the loss, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi started strongly, shooting efficiently in the first quarter to build its early lead. However, the team’s offensive rhythm was shattered by McNeese State’s defensive intensity in the second period. The Islanders finished the game shooting 48.7 percent from the floor but were undone by the turnover margin and a significant deficit in attempts, taking 21 fewer shots than the Cowgirls over the course of the game. McNeese State maintained its double-digit lead throughout the second half, with the Islanders never drawing closer than nine points. The Cowgirls’ advantage grew to as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter after a Patton three-pointer made it 72-51 with 3:55 remaining. The game was a rematch of a Jan. 15 meeting, also won by McNeese State 59-42. The Cowgirls have now won eight consecutive games. A crowd of 3,102 attended the contest. McNeese State next travels to face Nicholls State on Thursday. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi returns home to host Texas A&M-Commerce, also on Thursday.

LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A surging McNeese State squad will look to continue its dominant run through the Southland Conference when it hosts struggling Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a women’s basketball matchup Saturday at Burton Coliseum. The Cowgirls (23-4, 13-1 Southland) enter on a 10-game winning streak and sit atop the conference standings. Their lone league loss came on Jan. 8. McNeese State boasts one of the nation’s top defenses, allowing just 52.9 points per game, which has fueled its remarkable season turnaround. Conversely, the Islanders (5-20, 3-11) have found wins scarce, though they snapped a seven-game skid with a 76-69 road victory at Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday. That win provided a rare bright spot in a challenging season. The teams met just over a month ago in Corpus Christi, with McNeese State securing a 59-42 victory on Jan. 15. The Cowgirls’ defense stifled the Islanders in that contest, a theme they will aim to repeat. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s Chelsea Wooten is coming off a career-high 32-point, six-assist performance in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. Over her last five games, she is averaging 14.8 points. McNeese State counters with dynamic guard Tyreona Sibley, who scored 26 points in Thursday’s 60-53 win over Texas-Rio Grande Valley. In her last five outings, Sibley is averaging 12.2 points and has been a consistent catalyst for the conference leaders. The Islanders will need another explosive performance from Wooten and supplemental scoring from players like K’Nari Holliday and Torie Sevier to challenge the stout Cowgirl defense. McNeese State, which has won its conference home games by an average of 28.9 points, will rely on its balanced attack and defensive intensity to protect its home court and maintain its position in the standings. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Lake Charles.