Lady Wildcats Final Test before Tournament

2/14/2018 1:04:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

After picking up three American Southwest Conference wins last week, including a 58-57 squeaker over rival East Texas Baptist, the Louisiana College women's basketball team will play their final two regular season games of the season this week. With a tournament spot already locked up, the No. 4 seed in the East, the Wildcats will look to continue their strong play through the end of the week leading into next weekend's conference tournament in Richardson, Texas.

Ozarks 4-19 (2-14) | 6th ASC East

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

After a back-to-back close wins over Hardin-Simmons and LeTourneau near the end of January, Ozarks has lost the last six games in a row entering this week's rematch with the Wildcats. In their last meeting with LC on January 13, the Wildcats escaped with a close 59-56 win over the Eagles behind a 14 point game from senior Kourtney McGhee. The Wildcats shot 36.7 percent in that game and wen 1-for-14 from behind the arc. The Eagles are led this year by a pair of juniors in Diamond Goodwyn and Hailey Ostrander. Both players are averaging double digits on the year with Ostrander at 12.8 in all 22 games played for the team. Freshman Destinee Manning has been a beast on the glass for the Eagles this season with 12.1 rebounds per game, the best total in the conference. Ozarks ranks ninth in the ASC in scoring at 61.7 points per game and are allowing better than 73 points to their opponents. They are shooting 38.2 percent from the field on the season and 26.9 percent from long range. Tip-off between the Eagles and the Wildcats is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, LA.

UT Tyler 15-8 (11-5) | 3rd ASC East

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

UT Tyler won five games in a row before dropping a 68-58 decision to UT Dallas last Saturday, the only team the Patriots have lost to in the last five weeks of competition. One of their eight wins in the last month came on January 11 over the Wildcats in Texas. Despite a 21 point effort from Brooke Jones, the Wildcats defense could not overcome 29 turnovers in the game leading to 32 Patriot points. UTT ranks second in the conference in scoring at 73.1 points per game and fourth in total defense. They are also shooting the second best field goal percentage in the ASC at 41.5 and the third best from behind the arc at 31.6 percent. The Patriots have three players in double figures on the season, with Alex Kochner topping the team at 12.3 per game, followed by Carissa Spiker and Brittany Johnson at 11.7 and 11.0 per game. Kochner also leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game. Tip-off between the Patriots and Wildcats is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the Rapides Parish Coliseum in Alexandria, LA.

Louisiana College 13-9 (9-7) | 4th ASC East

The Wildcats picked up three big wins last week in ASC play, locking up their spot in the conference tournament next week. None of the wins bigger than the 58-57 nail-biter over rival East Texas Baptist where Kourtney McGhee went off for 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Regardless of the outcome of the next two games the Wildcats will enter the ASC tournament as the No. 4 seed from the East and will take on the West Division champion next Thursday afternoon in Richardson, Texas. Even with their spot locked up, the Wildcats still have something to play for in their final two games this week. One win would give them double digit conference victories for the first time since the 2013-14 season, and two wins would give them 15 in a season for the first time since the 17 win 13-14 season.

Brooke Jones continues to lead the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game, tied for second most in the conference. She also leads the team in rebounding at 6.9 per game. Fellow senior Kourtney McGhee has turned up her game over the last two week and is now averaging 13.4 points per game and needs just six points to reach 300 for the season, the first time in her career. McGhee ranks fifth in the conference with 3.6 assists per game and sixth in steals at 2.1 per game. As a team the Wildcats are third in scoring with a 70.2 average and fourth in field goal shooting at 39.5 percent.

Saturday will also serve as senior day for five LC basketball players. Brooke Jones, Kourtney McGhee, Taylor Payne, and Jonika Walton from the women's team and Torrian Lee from the men's team will be honored between the games against UT Tyler.

LC will take on Ozarks on Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. and UT Tyler Saturday at 2 p.m., both at the Rapides Coliseum, closing out the 2017-18 regular season. The early projections for the conference tournament have the Wildcats facing off with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor next Thursday, February 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the UTD Activity Center in Richardson, Texas. For the latest news on Louisiana College women's basketball follow @LC_WBB on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

Print Friendly Version