EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Women's Basketball fought to the end, suffering a 67-64 loss to Copiah-Lincoln in the first round of the Region 23 Tournament on Thursday at the HPRE Center.  The Bengals (22-7) erased multiple double-digit deficits throughout but could not convert the go-ahead basket.
 
LSUE trailed 67-58 with less than three minutes remaining, clawing back to within a single possession with 1:31 remaining.  Paulina Reichenauer (Waiblingen, Germany, Salier Gymnasium) sank a step-back three pointer to inch the Bengals to the Wolfpack, 67-64.  LSUE had three opportunities to tie inside the final minute, missing two long-range shots in the final ten seconds.
 
It was the story of the game for the Bengals, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half.  The Bengals would get within a few possessions in each quarter, but each time Co-Lin would have an answer.
 
The Bengals took their lone lead of the game from the jump as Saidastiny Stewart (Baton Rouge, LA, Dulles HS (TX)) drained a three-point basket from the elbow.  The Wolfpack would rattle off a 14-0 run and never trail the remainder of the game.  Reichenauer led the charge in the first quarter, scoring nine of her team-high 16 points in the frame while Reesie Jinks (Grant, LA, Fairview HS) hit a buzzer beating three pointer to make it a 20-15 game after one frame.
 
LSUE trailed 40-27 at the half time break, fighting back in the third quarter with four three-pointers to get within six points heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Jinks added 13 points while Stewart and Aryanna Ridgeway (Nashville, TN, Ezell Harding Christian School) each chipped in 11.