LAKE CHARLES--  The McNeese women's basketball team will make its 18^th overall Southland Conference Tournament appearance Friday when the fourth seed Cowgirls face eighth seed Lamar at 11 a.m. in the second round at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the Merrell Center. The game will be broadcast live on Cajun Radio (1470/1290 AM and CajunRadio.com) and also streamed on ESPN3.
 
The Cowgirls (19-11) are making their eighth tournament appearance under ninth year head coach Brooks Donald Williams. Under Williams, the Cowgirls have a 10-5 tournament record and have won two tournament titles under Williams' guidance.
 
McNeese ended the regular season winning three of their last four games to give them the fourth seed and a first round bye.
 
All-SLC second team selections and seniors Jayln Johnson and Allison Baggett will lead McNeese into the game as both are the only Cowgirls averaging in double figures. Johnson is averaging 14.7 ppg. and Baggett is averaging 13.5 ppg. Johnson ended the regular season with a league best 5.6 assists per game. She ranked third in assists/turnover ratio, fourth in free throw percent, and seventh in scoring. 
 
Sophomore Frederica Haywood leads McNeese with 8.7 rpg. and ranked fourth with 1.2 rpg. in conference games only. Jasmyn Carswell is second on the team with 6.0 rpg. and has a team high 52.7 field goal shooting percent.
 
Lamar (12-18) advanced to the second round with a 98-95 double overtime win over fifth seed Houston Baptist on Thursday.
 
During the regular season, McNeese won both meetings against the Cardinals with a 92-84 home win on Feb. 20 and a 76-69 road win on Feb. 24.
 
The winner of Friday's game will advance to Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal game against top seed Central Arkansas.