WBI Bracket

LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball postseason begins Thursday when the Cowgirls make their sixth postseason tournament and fourth straight WBI appearance. McNeese will travel to DeLand, Florida to face Stetson. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (CT) with live coverage on ESPN3. The game can also be heard on Cajunradio.com.
 
The WBI is a four-round, 16-team, single-elimination bracketed tournament. All games are held at campus sites.  
 
McNeese (20-12) is the fifth seed in the East bracket and Stetson (19-11) is the fourth seed. A win by the Cowgirls will have them playing the winner of Wednesday night's game against UL-Lafayette and Northwestern State on Saturday or Sunday at a site to be determined.
 
After playing in the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012, the Cowgirls have made the WBI Tournament the past four years, advancing to the championship game in 2013 where the Cowgirls fell 73-62 at Detroit. The Cowgirls are coming off a 72-64 Southland Conference Tournament semifinal loss to tournament champion Central Arkansas.   
 
Seniors Jayln Johnson and Allison Baggett are both averaging in double figures with 15.3 ppg., and 13.8 ppg., respectively. Sophomore Frederica Haywood leads the Cowgirls with 9.3 rpg. and is averaging 6.1 ppg.
 
Stetson is a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and is also making their sixth postseason appearance and first WBI appearance. The Hatters have played in the NCAA Tournament twice and the WNIT three times. They are coming off a 61-47 loss to Florida Gulf Coast in the A-Sun Tournament semifinal round after defeating Kennesaw State in the quarterfinal round. The Hatters are 12-3 at home this season and hold a 69-9 record in their last 78 home games.
 
Brianti Saunders leads Stetson in scoring with 18.0 ppg. and Breana Bey leads the team with 7.2 rpg. and is averaging 11.3 ppg.
 
The game is the first meeting between the two teams.
 
2016 WBI Pairings (all times Eastern)
Wednesday, March 16
Northwestern State (19-11) at Louisiana (21-10), 6 p.m.
Stony Brook (17-14) at Youngstown State (19-12), 8 p.m. 
Weber State (20-11) at New Mexico (17-14), 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 17
McNeese (20-12) at Stetson (19-11), 7 p.m.
USC Upstate (20-11) at Northern Kentucky (19-13), 7 p.m.
Fairfield (16-14) at UMBC (17-13), 8 p.m. 
Southern Illinois (20-12) at Western Illinois (15-15), 8 p.m.
Grand Canyon (16-14) at North Dakota (18-13), 8 p.m.

Sat, March 19th – Sun, 20th – Second Round
Wed, March 23rd – Thurs, 24th – Semifinal Round
Sat, March 26th – Sun, 27th – Championship Round