NEW ORLEANS, La. – LSU Eunice Women's Basketball raced out to a nearly 20-point lead before staving off a late Delgado charge to grab a 72-71 win in New Orleans on Saturday.  The Bengals (17-9, 6-0 LCCAC) improved their win streak to 11 games while maintaining a perfect record in conference play with three games remaining.
 
LSUE came out blazing hot to start at the Michael Williamson Center, shooting 63.2% (12-for-19) from the field in the first quarter.  A quick 9-0 run in less than three minutes helped the Bengals push their edge past double digits as four different players scored in that stretch.  Kamiera McDonald (Baton Rouge, LA, Scotlandville HS) scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the quarter.
 
Delgado would make it a game with a rally in the second quarter, cutting the LSUE advantage to 40-35 at the halftime break.
 
The Bengals would start the second half clicking on all cylinders again, forcing seven turnovers and using 15 combined by points by Mariah Heard (Bastrop, LA, Bastrop HS) and Izabella Henry (Hornbeck, LA, Anacoco HS).  LSUE stretched the lead to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter, 72-56, before a frantic rally by Delgado was held one point short.  A missed free throw with two seconds left helped LSUE escape with the win.
 
In addition to her 19 points, McDonald stuffed the stat sheet with six rebounds, five assists, and five steals.  Simone Clay (Bloomington, MN, Bloomington Jefferson HS) added 14 points while Heard and Henry added 12 each. 
 
Trinity Thomas (Walker, LA, Walker HS) flirted with a double-double, posting six points and eight rebounds.
 
LSU Eunice readies for the last round robin of LCCAC play, beginning Wednesday with a road trip to Southern-Shreveport.