Box Score

Lake Charles, La. — Candace LaCombe scored a game-high 18 points, 15 in the second half, to help the McNeese State women's basketball team to a 68-55 victory over Norfolk State on Wednesday night at Burton Arena.

LaCombe was 5-of-17 from the field, including 5-of-12 from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. She added five rebounds, five assists and four steals in 32 minutes of play.

NSU (2-7) got on the board first with a 3-pointer by Whitney Long (Raleigh, N.C.) with 19 minutes left in the first half. The Spartans went up 7-0 after another basket by Long. Kendra Wells scored the first points for McNeese State (4-8) on a layup with 15:03 left.

The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and went into halftime tied at 21-all.

Things were close in the second half all the way to the end. The Spartans got within four, 53-49, after a three-point play by Genor Dalton (Martinsville, Va.) with 4:57 left in the game. But the Cowgirls outscored the Spartans 15-6 the rest of the way to seal the win.

For McNeese State, Kiara Johnson had 16 points and eight rebounds and Wells had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards.

Long led NSU with 11 points. Raychele Payne (Newport News, Va.) had 10 points and Batavia Owens (Norfolk, Va.) grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

The Spartans resume MEAC play on Jan. 9 when they play at Bethune-Cookman. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.