McNeese Cowgirls (5-11, 2-3 SLC) at Nicholls Colonels (4-12, 1-4 SLC) 
Thibodaux (Stopher Gym)
Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 • 5 p.m. • ESPN+
Radio: Cajun Radio (1470 AM)
Series: McNeese leads the series 61-26
 
 
LAKE CHARLES – McNeese women's basketball will travel to Thibodaux this Thursday to face Nicholls in the first of back-to-back games against the Colonels.  Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. with the game be broadcast on ESPN+.  Bruce Merchant will handle the radio call on Cajun Radio (1470 AM).
 
McNeese (5-11, 2-3 SLC) is coming off a 69-54 home win over Houston Christian last Saturday in what was probably the Cowgirls' most complete game of the season.  The Cowgirls are still looking for its first road win of the season and nearly picked their first win up in their last outing but fell 62-61 at Northwestern State on Jan. 12.
 
The Cowgirls enter the game leading the SLC with a 44.6 field goal percent, rank second in scoring (66.6 ppg.), and are tied for second with 36.0 rpg. in conference games.
 
Paris Mullins is coming off the bench to lead the Cowgirls in scoring (10.2 ppg.) while Divine Tanks continues to lead the team with 5.4 rpg.
 
In conference games, Tanks leads the league with a 62.1 field goal percent.  Desirae Hansen leads the league with 2.4 three-pointers made per game and is third with 3.8 assists per game.  Le'Shenae Stubblefield is tied for second in steals in conference play with 2.4 per game.
 
Nicholls (4-12, 1-4 SLC) has lost eight of its last nine game and are coming off a 76-64 home loss at the hands of NN State last Saturday.  The Colonels lone conference win was an 80-74 overtime win at Lamar on Jan. 12.
 
The Colonels have three players averaging in double figures with Lexi Alexander averaging 13.6 ppg. overall and 17.8 ppg. in conference games which leads the league.  Also averaging in double figures is Deonna Brister (11.9 ppg.), and Kyla Hamilton (10.4 ppg.).  Alexander and Brister are Colonels top two rebounders with 8.4 rpg. and 7.5 rpg., respectively.  
 
 
NOTES
- It's the first of back-to-back games against Nicholls
 
- The teams will turn around and play each other in Lake Charles on Saturday
 
- McNeese leads the series 61-26 and has won the last two meetings that snapped a five-game losing streak against the Colonels
 
- Cowgirls are coming off what is probably its most complete game of the season in a 69-54 home win over HCU last Saturday
 
- For the fourth straight game, McNeese had three players score in double figures.
 
- Zuzanna Kulinska led McNeese with 14 points, Desirae Hansen scored 11, and Paris Mullins came off the bench to score 10.
 
- Mullins is coming off the bench to lead McNeese in scoring (10.2 ppg.) and is the only Cowgirl averaging in double figures.
 
- Divine Tanks continues to lead the team with 5.4 rpg. Tanks has also scored in double figures in two of the last three games and is averaging 7.3 ppg.
 
- Zuzanna Kulinska has scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games.  Kulinska enters the game averaging 8.7 ppg. overall and 10.2 ppg. in league play
 
- Desirae Hansen has scored in double figures in thee of the last four games and is averaging 11.4 ppg. in conference games.
 
- Cristina Gil is making her way back from an injury she suffered in the first game of the season.  Gil played in 18 minutes against HCU last Saturday, the most in a game this season, ending the game with eight points and two assists.
 
- McNeese was picked to finish 6th in the preseason poll while Nicholls was picked 10th.