The Lady Mav basketball team lost its first game against the Leander Lady Lions Nov. 18 despite putting up a good fight.

“I think the game was out of control,” junior Jade Jefferies said. “We had fun but we needed to be more patient. We need to have more chemistry because we have a lot of new people this year.”

The game started off slowly in the first quarter with the opposing team scoring the first few points. McNeil finished the quarter with a score of 4 to 11.

In the second quarter, things began to pick up for the Lady Mavs as they scored more points, but Leander scored more frequently. At halftime the score was 13-28 with the Lady Lions still in the lead.

“[We need to have] better communication, take our time, do better on free throws and [get] fewer fouls,” junior Bre’Shawn Scott said.

In the third quarter, the Lady Mavericks decreased the gap to 25-34. The game ended with a score of 33-43 with Leander winning.

“We have a good defense,” coach Jennifer Moore said. “It is our strongest point.”

In the first half McNeil received six fouls and Leander five and the game finished with McNeil with 10 fouls and Leander with six.

“Offense could have been a lot better,” Moore said. “We are working on our shooting percentages and free throw percentage.”