LAKE CHARLES--  McNeese women's basketball will make its 19^th Southland Conference Tournament appearance Thursday when the No. 6 seed Cowgirls take on the No. 7 seed Nicholls Colonels at 1:30 p.m. at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.
 
The game can be seen on ESPN3 and heard on the McNeese Radio Network, KLCL (1470/1290 AM). Live stats will be available as well. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (13-16) will face the Colonels (10-19) for the second time this season. The Cowgirls picked up a 59-52 win in Lake Charles on Feb. 18.
 
A win against Nicholls would advance McNeese to a second round game against Stephen F. Austin on Thursday.
 
Seniors Victoria Rachal and Amber Donnes continue to lead McNeese in scoring. Rachal, an All-SLC honorable mention selection, leads the Cowgirls with 11.8 ppg. and is second on the team with an 83.3 free throw percent and assists. Rachal has scored in double figures in nine of the last 12 games.
 
Donnes is chipping in with 10.8 ppg. and leads the team with 49 three-pointers and 2.0 steals per contest. Like Rachal, Donnes has also scored in double figures in nine of the last 12 games.
 
Junior Frederica Haywood, also an All-SLC honorable mention selection, leads McNeese with 10.6 rpg. and ranks ninth in the nation in offensive rebounds. Haywood is shooting 45.3 percent from the field and has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 13 of the last 15 games.
 
Nicholls ended its regular season with a 79-69 home win last Saturday over New Orleans, the tournament's No. 4 seed. The Colonels have four players averaging in double figures and are led by Cassidy Barrios. The All-SLC third team selection is averaging 15.3 ppg. and 7.5 rpg. Hope Pawlowski, an All-SLC honorable mention pick is averaging 11.6 ppg., Emani White (10.2 ppg.), and Taylor Morrison (10.7 ppg.).