LAKE CHARLES- McNeese women's basketball will ring in the new year and the 2019 Southland Conference schedule this Wednesday, Jan. 2 when the Cowgirls will host Incarnate Word at 6:30 p.m. at the H&HP Complex in what will be the last of four straight home games.
 
This young McNeese (2-9) team played a competitive non-conference schedule with the hopes that it has prepared them for conference play. The Cowgirls were picked to finish eighth in the SLC preseason poll but have started to put thing together at the right time.
 
"Our non-conference games have made us better and no question they have prepared us for Southland Conference play and what we will see Wednesday," said head coach Kacie Cryer.
 
Redshirt Callie Maddox and junior Regan Bolton will lead McNeese into the SLC opener averaging 13.5 ppg. ad 10.5 ppg., respectively. Maddox also leads the team with a 76.7 free throw percent and Bolton has a team high 28 three-pointers. Bolton has also scored in double figures in the last three games.
 
As a team, the Cowgirls are averaging 59.9 ppg. and 44.6 rpg. 
 
Freshman Divine Tanks and junior Damilola Balogun lead the Cowgirls on the glass with 4.7 and 4.5 rpg., respectively.
 
Incarnate Word enters the game with an 0-11 record but like the Cowgirls, the Cardinals played a competitive non-conference schedule that included such games as Arizona State, Houston, Arizona, Minnesota, Massachusetts and most recently Rice.
 
The Cardinals are averaging 51.2 ppg. and are led in scoring by Imani Robinson's 9.3 ppg. Angelica Wiggins is averaging 9.0 ppg.
 
Following Wednesday's game, McNeese will hit the road for four straight beginning with a game at Northwestern State on Jan. 5.