McNeese women’s basketball defeated Texas A&M 68-48 on March 19, advancing to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT).
The victory marks a significant achievement for McNeese, as it is their first win over a Power Four opponent since the P4 was established in 2014. The Cowgirls now hold a 29-5 record, while Texas A&M ends its season at 14-13.
This win is also McNeese’s first postseason victory since 2015, when they beat Furman in the first round of what was then called the Women’s Basketball Invitational. The Cowgirls will next face San Diego State on Sunday, March 22, with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Central Time and streaming available on ESPN+.
Allasia Washington led McNeese with a career-high 20 points, scoring ten of the team’s first fourteen points and finishing six-for-eleven from the field. Dakota Howard contributed thirteen points and Arianna Patton added eleven. The Cowgirls’ defense played a key role by holding Texas A&M without a field goal in the final three minutes and twenty-nine seconds and forcing eighteen turnovers that resulted in twenty points.
Both teams started slowly, but McNeese took an early lead and maintained control throughout the game. At halftime, McNeese led by twelve points after outscoring Texas A&M in both quarters. In the second half, they continued to build their advantage with strong defensive play and timely scoring runs.
Looking ahead, McNeese aims to continue its postseason run against San Diego State as part of its historic season.
