Sept. 24, 2004

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, LA. - McNeese State's Nicole James slammed a career high 43 kills as the Cowgirls handed Texas-Arlington a 3-1 loss Friday evening at Memorial Gym in Lake Charles, La. Game scores in the match were 30-32, 34-32, 18-30, 25-30 as the Mavericks fell to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the Southland Conference.

The Cowgirls improved to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the league.

The Mavericks dropped game one for just the second time this season as McNeese rallied for a 32-30 victory. UTA led by as many as five and held a late two point advantage but couldn't fend off the Cowgirls.

UTA struggled early in game two, allowing McNeese to jump to a 15-10 advantage. The Cowgirls held the lead until a Morgan Rogers kill tied the game a 21 all. From that point on there were 11 lead changes and 10 ties before the Mavericks claimed victory behind back-to-back blocks from Heather Dunn and Caley Smith.

Nicole James collected 10 kills in game three alone, leading McNeese to a 30-18 win.

Game four mirrored the first two as each team battled to hold the lead until a 5-0 run to close the game put McNeese in front 30-25.

Rogers paced the Mavericks at the net with 13 kills while Smith and Ashley Van Antwerp chipped in with 12 apiece. Rogers contributed 21 digs to the defensive effort as she recorded her ninth double-double of the year. Dunn dished out 43 assists and collected 19 digs in the Mavs efforts. Smith (13), Dani Johnson (13), Torie Dacus (11) and Van Antwerp (11) rounded out the Mavs in double figures.

Smith recorded her second triple-double of the year, collecting 12 kills, 13 digs and 10 blocks in the match.

Texas-Arlington continues Southland Conference play Saturday at Lamar. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Montange Center in Beaumont.

-utamavs.com-