LAKE CHARLES-- McNeese women's basketball will host Central Arkansas in its regular season home finale at 11 a.m. Saturday at Burton Coliseum in a game that will have Southland Conference Tournament seeding implications.
McNeese (16-12, 10-7 SLC) will enter the game in a fifth place tie in the league standings along with UCA (17-12, 10-7 SLC) and Northwestern State. The Lady Demons will host UNO on Saturday.
Saturday's game also marks the final home game for seniors
Alaina Verdin and
Talisa Boyd. Both players will be honored 15 minutes prior to the tip.
Verdin, a native of Houma, Louisiana is a four year letter winner who has been plagued by injuries her entire career. Verdin has played in 97 career games and has been a part of four teams that have played in the postseason (two NCAA, two WBI and one conference). She was a member of the first women's basketball team that advanced to the NCAA's for the first time in school history.
Boyd, a native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, is a transfer from Northeast Mississippi Community College and is in her second season with the Cowgirls. Boyd has played in 54 career games and has been a starter all season long. She has led the Cowgirls in rebounds all season and is currently averaging 7.7 per game. Boyd is second on the team with a 47.6 field goal percent and fourth in scoring with 6.9 ppg.
The Cowgirls will look to pick up their second win over UCA this season after a thrilling 65-63 win over the Sugar Bears on Feb. 18. Junior
Jayln Johnson scored the game-winning basket with 3.9 seconds to play.
The Sugar Bears own the all-time series 11-7 and have won four of the last seven. McNeese has won the last two meetings including a 66-62 win over UCA at the Southland Conference Tournament last season.
Junior
Allison Baggett continues to pace the Cowgirls in scoring and ranks third in the SLC with 16.8 ppg. Baggett also leads the conference with an 88.8 free throw percent. She also leads the team with a 34.4 three-point percent.
Johnson is averaging 13.2 ppg. and ranks second in the SLC with 5.5 assists. Johnson has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 13 games and is coming off a 10-point game against Nicholls.
Boyd is second on the team with a 47.6 field goal percent and is averaging 6.9 rpg. to go along with six career double doubles.
The eight team Women's Southland Conference Tournament is set to begin next Thursday, March 12. Thursday and Friday games will be played at 11 a.m. and 1:30.
