Lady Bengals set program record in Saturday afternoon victory
The LSU Eunice women's basketball team took one step closer to conference play on Saturday afternoon, running their winning streak to 11 straight games after a 75-44 victory over visiting Patrick Henry Community College.
The win improved the Lady Bengals to 17-1 on the season, while they set a new program-best as well, holding their opponent to 50 points or fewer for the 11th time to break the previous record of 10 times set back during the 2007-2008 team.
"Offense will get people in the stands, but defense is what wins games and championships. It's good that they are focused on that and they want to play defense. Defense is what we focus on because we know without it we won't be successful," head coach Yolanda Moore said of the record.
LSU Eunice also closed out their back-to-back game schedule on Saturday, finishing 10-0 against five total teams when playing on consecutive days.
On Saturday, the Lady Bengals saw four players finish in double figures scoring, as they shot 47 percent (30-for-64) from the floor, 42 percent (5-12) from three-point range and 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw stripe.
"One of the best things about our team is that we are a team. There's not one person that you can just guard and think you are going to win. Every night someone different can step up, and everyone has something different they bring to the table," sophomore Meghan Cross said.
LSU Eunice used their defense to force a pair of Patrick Henry (7-9) first half scoring droughts, going on a 9-0 scoring run in the opening minutes before holding the visitors scoreless for over five minutes late in the half to grow the lead to 23 before settling on a 16-point halftime advantage.
Patrick Henry came out with a flurry to open the second stanza, as the teams traded baskets in the opening minutes before the Lady Bengals were able to withstand the storm and pull away for the 31-point win.
Cross and freshman Taylor Holzmeier each finished with double-doubles and 18 points for the Lady Bengals, as both did most of their scoring damage in opposite halves.
Holzmeier collected 12 points in the first half while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds, while Cross notched 14 second half points to go along with 10 rebounds and three steals of her own.
Sophomores Reagan Maricle and Taylor Maricle each finished with 11 points, as Reagan passed out nine assists, grabbed six rebounds and four steals, and Taylor gave away eight assists to go along with her three rebounds and three steals.
Freshman Ashlyn Wiemann finished with nine points off a trio of second half three-point baskets, adding three rebounds, while sophomore Brooke Richard added four points, four rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Baylie Lee and Meghan Knight each tallied two points to round out the scoring, with the sophomore Lee grabbing five rebounds.
The Lady Bengals will hit the road for the first time since Dec. 14 next week when they travel to play at Faulkner State Community College. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m. in Bay Minette, Alabama and can be seen on Bengal All-Access and heard on KVPI 92.5 FM.
