Box Score HOUSTON – The Lady Bengals opened their 2016-17 season with a 66-73 loss to Coastal Bend College in the San Jacinto Classic Friday. LSU Eunice led 46-39 at the half, but Coastal Bend (1-0) outscored the Lady Bengals 25-6 in the third period to seal the win.
Rylie James and
Becca Brooks led the way for the Lady Bengals (0-1). James, a freshman, finished the night with 18 points, all in the last three quarters. Brooks, who finished last season second in Division I in three point baskets, had 14 points, including three 3-point baskets.
Sydney Hayden had 12 points on the night.
LSU Eunice dropped behind the Lady Cougars 20-24 in the first quarter. Thirteen of Coast Bends points in the first quarter were off of free-throws. The Lady Bengals then scored 26 points in the second quarter to move out in front 46-39 at the half. Brooks had six points on two 3-pointers in the second quarter and James added 8. Hayden scored 7.
But, it was the third period that did the Lady Bengals in. They could only manage six points and missed a pair of free throws, while the Lady Cougars scored 25. The Lady Bengals edged Coastal Bend 14-11 in the fourth, but couldn't overcome the poor third quarter showing.
The Lady Bengals out rebounded Coastal Bend 34-29 on the offensive side of the ball, but managed only 18 defensive rebounds.
Nicole Kraut finished with eight points and
Gabrielle Harrington had five.
Destini Hall added four points,
Swaranga Fernando had there, and
Jaleya Gold added a pair.
The Lady Bengals take on top-twenty ranked Blinn College in game two of the San Jacinto Classic on Saturday.
