KATY — Lamar’s run in the Southland Conference Tournament came to an end Friday.

McNeese State defeated the Cardinals for the third time this season, 88-77, in the quarterfinals at the Merrell Center. Lamar (12-19) gave up 24 offensive rebounds to McNeese (20-11), and the Cowgirls converted them into 26 second-chance points to advance to face top-seeded Central Arkansas at 1 p.m. Saturday.

McNeese outrebounded Lamar 51-36.

“We were up 19 points and that third quarter hasn’t been our friend all year,” Lamar coach Robin Harmony said. “We allowed them 31 points and we scored 14. Our team refuses to box out and we also allow defensive touches in the paint. When we looked into the kids’ eyes, they were just done.”

Lamar was coming off a double-overtime, 98-95 victory over Houston Baptist on Thursday.

Kiara Desamours and Addesha Collins both spent time at a local hospital Thursday evening getting fluids.

Desamours was suffering from a stomach flu and shot 1 of 5 Friday with six rebounds, two points and five turnovers. Collins suffered a major leg cramp Thursday, but came back Friday to score a game-high 35 points to go with seven boards in her final game for Lamar.

“Being tired had nothing to do with it,” Collins said. “We just got frustrated.”

Lamar was up 42-23 with 4:35 left in the first half. The Cowgirls closed to within 44-40 at the break and then Jayln Johnson (23 points, eight assists) scored the first five points of the third quarter to take a 45-44 advantage, the first lead of the game for McNeese.

Desamours scored a layup with 3:10 left in the third to put the Cowgirls’ lead at 56-54 before McNeese answered with a 10-0 run to go up 66-54.

Lamar started the second quarter up 25-19. Collins scored 11 points in the frame.

Barrs then hit a basket with 5:19 to give Lamar a 38-23 lead and then Blache added two free throws before Collins put the Cardinals up 19, 42-23, with a jumper.

Johnson ended the bleeding for McNeese with a three-pointer and hit another with 1:46 left in the second to cut the lead to 42-39.

“We gave up 26 second-chance points,” Harmony said. “They hit four threes in that run and we didn’t answer back. We would come down the court and started slopping the ball up. It was the shooter and Laka (Blache) in there trying to rebound. Everyone else was just watching. They just didn’t want to do what got us here and what got them that lead. You can’t coach rebounding, even though we go over it every day. It has to come from your heart.”

Blache finished with seven rebounds, six on the offensive side, and 14 points.

Lamar gave up 23 rebounds to McNeese’s Frederica Haywood a day after allowing HBU’s Anna Strickland to pull down 31 boards. The 31 rebounds are a conference record and the most rebounds a female player has had in the country this year.

Allison Baggett led McNeese with 30 points.

Baileigh O’Dell started out hot Friday and finished 4 of 10 from the field for 11 points. Freshman Chastadie Barrs finished with eight points, five rebounds, five assists and six turnovers.

Collins set the school record for most free throws made in a single season with 175. She was 12 for 12 from the line on Friday.

“She is coming back next year,” Harmony joked. “She was only a junior. We didn’t tell you that yet. That is the big announcement today. No, she will definitely be missed.”