LAKE CHARLES—Coming off wins over Dartmouth and Texas-Arlington in the preseason WNIT consolation bracket, the McNeese women's basketball team will host Rice (0-3) in its home opener Wednesday at noon in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cowboys. Fans can listen to the game live on 1290/1470 AM or cajunradio.com for follow livestats at mcneesesports.com. Livestreaming will not be available.
 
McNeese (2-1) has three players averaging in double figures with senior point guard Jayln Johnson leading the way. This week's Southland Conference Player of the Week leads the Cowgirls in scoring (13.0 ppg.) assists (3.3), and steals (1.7). The Jennings native leads the nation in free throw percent, having made all 13 attempts this season.
 
Also averaging in double figures is Amber Donnes (11.0 ppg.) coming off the bench and Allison Baggett (10.3 ppg.) Donnes also leads the team with a 50.0 three-point percent while Baggett is shooting 41.7 percent from behind the arc.
 
Sophomores Frederica Haywood and Mercedes Rogers are also contributing with Haywood pulling down a team high 8.7 rebounds per contest. Rogers is shooting 75.0 percent from the field and has made 9-of-12 of her shots.
 
Despite being winless this season, Rice has played two nationally ranked teams with a 60-55 road loss to Southland Conference member Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Rice opened the season with a 72-39 loss at No. 17/18 Kentucky and is coming off a 70-47 loss at No. 8/11 Texas on Saturday. Rice holds a 6-3 series record over the Cowgirls after picking up a 57-55 win in Houston last year.
 
The Owls are led in scoring and rebounding by sophomore guard Shani Rainey. Rainey is averaging 13.3 ppg. and is the only Rice player averaging in double figures. She leads the team with 4.7 rebounds while reserve Maya Hawkins leads with 10 assists.
 
Following the game, the Cowgirls will break for the Thanksgiving Holiday and will return to the court on Sunday, Nov. 29 to host Southern (New Orleans) in a 2 p.m. game.