EUNICE, La. – The key LCCAC Women's Basketball matchup between LSU Eunice and Baton Rouge lived up to all expectations and then some, with the Bengals falling in a 63-60 heartbreaker on Saturday at the HPRE Center.  The Bengals (6-14 overall, 2-2 LCCAC) were tied with the Bears for the early lead in the conference ledger.
 
LSUE used its inside presence early, taking control in the second quarter to hold a 31-28 halftime lead.  Deja Tanks (Lake Charles, LA, LaGrange HS) scored eight of her ten points in the frame to lead the LSUE cause into the locker rooms.
 
The third quarter would prove to be fatal for the Bengals as the Bears would outscore LSUE 21-5 in the frame holding the Bengals to just 2-for-15 (13.3%) from the field.  LSUE, however, would not go down without a fight.  Trailing 53-38 with 7:00 minutes remaining, the Bengals stormed back as Braille Washington's (Rayne, LA, Rayne HS) three pointer trimmed the deficit to a one possession game, 61-58, with 1:14 to go.
 
Washington would make two free throws with 48.3 seconds left to make it a 61-60 contest.  After BRCC responded with a pair of free throws of its own, LSUE would get three more offensive opportunities but could not cash in.
 
Kaylan Jack (Baton Rouge, LA, Madison Prep Academy) and Dayla Simon (Longville, LA, South Beauregard HS) were the other two Bengals in double figures, scoring 11 and 10 points each.  Tanks nearly recorded a double-double, grabbing a team-high nine rebounds.
 
BRCC would ultimately win the battle inside, outscoring LSUE 38-24 in points in the paint.
 
LSUE will head out on the road this Wednesday for a conference doubleheader with Delgado.