Lady Wildcats Last Chance to Secure Tourney Spot

2/8/2017 9:46:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information

The Louisiana College Lady Wildcats basketball team will play its final two conference games of the regular season this weekend, with a chance to wrap up a tournament bid after missing the tournament the last two seasons. The Wildcats currently sit in fourth in the American Southwest Conference East Division standings, out of contention for the third spot but not having yet locked up the fourth and final spot. The University of the Ozarks sits 1.0 games behind the Wildcats for the final spot with still four conference games remaining, including a date with the Wildcats this Saturday.

UT Dallas | 18-3 (11-1) 1st ASC East

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The Comets have been the best team in the ASC for the bulk of the season. They are on a five game winning streak entering Thursday's game in Pineville, and winners of 16 of the last 17 games. Their only loss coming to conference foe Mary Hardin-Baylor, which is also their only ASC loss this season, on January 16. The Comets have four players averaging double digit points on the season, led by senior guard Alyssa Crockett who is putting in 14.0 points per contest, ninth best in the ASC. Micaela Gonzalez is the team's leading rebounder, pulling in 6.2 per game while also scoring double digit points at 12.8 per game. As a team the Comets rank sixth in scoring but are the conference's best defensive team, by a significant margin. Dallas is only allowing 54.0 points per game to their opponents, 9.6 fewer than the number two team Mary Hardin-Baylor. They rank in the top four in the conference in free throw, field goal, and 3-point percentage, one of just two teams in the ASC that do that.

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Ozarks | 9-12 (4-8) 5th ASC East

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Ozarks enters Thursday's set of games on a two game losing streak, having lost three of their last four games overall. The Eagles will take on ETBU Thursday night in Marshall before making the trip to Pineville for Saturday afternoon's game. The Eagles have three players with double digit scoring averages this season, led by senior Bryanna Moltz with 15.2 per game, which ranks fifth in the ASC. Two other starters, Hailey Ostrander and Delanei Stephens are also in double digits at 11.4 and 10.4 points per game. Stephens is also the teams leading rebounder, pulling down 7.7 boards per game, seventh best in the conference. The Eagles have a realatively low scoring offense for where they rank in terms of shooting percentages. The Eagles are ninth in scoring at 66.5 points per game but rank third in field goal and free throw shooting percentage in the conference.

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Louisiana College | 7-13 (6-8) 4th ASC East

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After a bit of a skid, losing both games last last week to UT Tyler and LeTourneau, the Wildcats picked up a good win on Monday over rival ETBU thanks to a strong second half performance and near triple-double from Kourtney McGhee. The Wildcats rank third in the ASC in scoring, averaging 70.8 points per game, but ranking near the bottom of the conference in field goal and free throw shooting percentage. LC has the conferences sixth best 3-point shooting percent, hitting 29.8% of their shots from behind the arc. Brooke Jones contines to lead the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, the only Wildcat to rank in the top 20 in both categories in the conference this season. Jones is the only player averaging more than 10 points per game for LC, Karlee Teddlie and Kourtney McGhee are just outside at 9.4 and 9.2 per game.

There are several scenarios that could play out over the next two games, but if the Wildcats are able to win both games they will lock up the fourth spot without a doubt. Should LC lose to Dallas and to Ozarks, the door would not be totally closed to a tournament bid if Ozarks lost their final two conference games after this week, the Wildcats and Eagles would end in a tie and depend on the tiebreaker scenarios. With Ozarks have still two more conference games to play after Saturday the potential situations are endless, but at the end of the day, the more game LC wins and the more games Ozarks lose, the better for the Wildcats. Tip off for Thursday's game against East leaders UT Dallas is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and senior day Saturday is set to begin at 1 p.m. Follow LC women's basketball on Twitter at @LC_WBB.

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