LAKE CHARLES—Since playing its last home game on Dec. 16, the McNeese women's basketball team will return to the friendly confines of Burton Coliseum this Saturday, Jan. 9 to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m. in its Southland Conference home opener.
 
The Rasing Caine's Challenge will make its season debut Saturday and will continue through the remainder of the season. Every time the Cowgirls score 60 points and the Cowboys score 65 points, fans will receive a box combo card. Also, the first 300 kids through the door will receive glow sticks.
 
McNeese (9-5, 1-1 SLC) will look to protect its unbeaten home record this season (5-0) against the Islanders who enter the contest with a 3-10 overall record and an 0-2 conference record as well as a winless road record of 0-3.
 
The Cowgirls dropped its SLC opener on the road to Stephen F. Austin before evening its record with a 71-64 road win at Houston Baptist on Monday. Texas A&M-CC will be playing its third game in five days after falling to Central Arkansas at home on Jan. 5 and recently a 75-70 loss at Lamar on Thursday.
 
McNeese has three players averaging in double figures with senior Jayln Johnson leading the way with 12.7 ppg. after scoring a game high 23 points in the win over HBU. Johnson also leads the Cowgirls in free throw percent (91.9), assists (4.4), and steals (1.7). Senior Allison Baggett averages 11.9 ppg. while junior Amber Donnes is chipping in 10.1 ppg. Sophomore Frederica Haywood leads McNeese in rebounds with 7.1 per game. Heywood is coming off a game where she grabbed 14 boards.
 
The Islanders are led in scoring by Shay Weaver's 11.9 ppg. Brittany Mbamalu is right behind with 11.8 ppg. Mbamalu is coming off a 23-point game where she made seven three-pointers in the loss to Lamar. Camesha Davis leads TAMU-CC with 6.1 rpg.