Twelve Conference Games Highlights this Week in Women's Basketball
FRISCO, Texas - Coming off a double-overtime thrilling victory against McNeese State, conference-leading Central Arkansas will travel to Natchitoches, La., to take on division foe Northwestern State on Wednesday is the Toyota Game of the Week on the Southland Conference Television Network. Tipoff is at 7:05 p.m., Central.
Central Arkansas has a 16-4 overall record after sweeping a pair of home games last week against Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State. The Sugar Bears cruised past the Lady Lions 71-54 last Wednesday before knocking off defending conference champion McNeese State 71-70 in double overtime. UCA owns a 6-1 conference record and is tied for the league lead with McNeese but owns the early tie-breaker. The lone blemish on the Sugar Bears' conference record was an early conference loss to Stephen F. Austin on Jan. 11. Since then, UCA has reeled off five consecutive victories. Megan Herbert leads the Sugar Bears with 16.2 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game, which is second-best in the conference in both categories. Herbert has tallied 56 career double-doubles, which leads the nation among active players. Offensively, three other Sugar Bears pace the team in scoring with Nakeia Guiden (9.2), Courtney Duever (8.9) and Micah Rice (8.9). UCA's defense holds opponents to 51.3 points per game while its offense averages 68.4 points per game, giving the Sugar Bears a league-leading +17.1 average scoring margin.
Northwestern State is 5-15 overall and 1-6 in Southland action after dropping two road games last week. The Lady Demons fell short against Lamar 58-56 in midweek action before dropping a 73-66 decision at Southeastern. Northwestern's conference win came against UTSA, a 61-57 decision in Natchitoches Jan. 14. The Lady Demons have three players averaging double-figures this season with Jordi James (13.9), Trudy Armstead (13.2) and Jasmine Upchurch (11.4). Armstead and Upchurch also pace Northwestern on the glass, pulling down 8.9 and 8.3 rebounds per game, respectively. Defensively, the Lady Demons lead the league with 5.7 blocks per game against conference opponents.
This will be the 14th all-time meeting between the universities in women's basketball. Northwestern State holds a 7-6 edge. The teams split the two regular-season meetings last year with each team winning on the other team's court. The Sugar Bears defeated the Lady Demons earlier this season in Conway, 84-43.
In other midweek action, UT Arlington (3-15, 1-5) starts things off on Wednesday when it hosts UTSA (7-12, 3-3) at 6:30 p.m. It will be the Mavs first game at newly built College Park Center. McNeese State (16-5, 6-1) will try to rebound against West Division leader Sam Houston State (10-8, 5-2) in a 7 p.m. game in Lake Charles, La. Lamar (10-10, 2-4) will try to get back on its winning ways at home against Southeastern Louisiana (6-13, 1-5), while Nicholls State (11-9, 4-3) hopes to move closer to berth in Katy at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Both games are set for a 7 p.m. tip. Stephen F. Austin will travel to San Marcos to take on Texas State at 7 p.m. Both teams are 4-2 in conference while SFA is 14-5 overall and the Bobcats are 12-7.
All 12 Southland programs will be in competition again on Saturday with four games set for a 2 p.m. start. Sam Houston hosts Southeastern, UT Arlington welcomes Central Arkansas, Lamar travels to UTSA and Nicholls visits Texas State. Tipping at 6 p.m. will be McNeese and SFA in Nacogdoches followed by the nightcap between Northwestern at A&M-Corpus Christi at 7 p.m.
UCA's Megan Herbert First in NCAA in Active Career Double-Doubles
In less than three seasons of play, Central Arkansas junior forward Megan Herbert leads the NCAA in career double-doubles among active players. Herbert currently has 56 career double-doubles while the next closest active player is Sacred Heart senior Callan Taylor with 50. Herbert is the first women's player in conference history to record more than 30 double-doubles. A native of Rogers, Ark., Herbert set the single-season record as a freshman with 27 double-doubles.
Southland Players in the National Ranks
- Sam Houston State junior forward Sequeena Thomas is 11th in the nation in rebounds per game. Thomas pulls down 10.8 rpg for the Bearkats. In 18 games this season, she has a total of 195 boards. Central Arkansas' Megan Herbert is 17th in the country with 10.4 rpg.
- McNeese State junior guard Caitlyn Baggett is one of the best in the nation from behind the arc, shooting 44.0 percent. Baggett has made 48 of 109 from 3-point range, ranking eighth in the country.
McNeese State and Central Arkansas Ranked in Mid-Major Poll; Stephen F. Austin Receives Votes
In this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, McNeese State falls one spots in the rankings to No. 12. The Cowgirls received 367 points after falling 70-71 in double-overtime against Central Arkansas. The Sugar Bears jumped two spots last week at No. 15 after knocking off McNeese. UCA received 329 points in the poll. Stephen F. Austin picked up some more votes to receive a total of 28 points this week.
Sugar Bears' Defense Among Top in the Country
Central Arkansas possesses the ninth best scoring defense in the country with 51.4 points given up per game. The Sugar Bears have held three opponents to under 40 points so far this season and nine opponents to under fifty, which is a program record. McNeese State is close behind the Sugar Bears at 23rd (53.4 ppg).
3's are Hard to Come By
The Sugar Bears rank 11th in the nation in 3-point field goal defense with opponents only making 24.7 percent of their shots from behind the arc. Along with Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State and McNeese State rank in the Top 20. Sam Houston ranks 15th (25.1 percent) and McNeese sits at 17th (25.3 percent). The Islanders are right outside the Top 20 at the 22nd position (26.0 percent).
Cowgirls Force Turnovers
McNeese State has a 7.32 turnover margin, which is good for the seventh best margin in the nation. The Cowgirls have turned the ball over 262 times in 19 games while forcing 401 turnovers on the defensive side.
Earn It from the Charity Stripe
Nicholls State is having one of its best years in recent history, thanks in large part to the Colonels being one of the most consistent teams from the free-throw line. Nicholls ranks seventh in the country in free-three percentage, knocking down 78.0 percent of its attempts.
Sugar Bears Remain Perfect at Home
More than halfway through the regular season schedule, Central Arkansas is the only Southland team to stay perfect at home. The Sugar Bears posses an impressive 12-0 record with wins over Alabama, Indiana, Tennessee-Martin and McNeese State. UCA is away from home this week, but return to the Farris Center Feb. 8 against Texas State. UCA has only four more home games remaining.
Islanders Snap 18-Game Conference Skid
The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's basketball team snapped a string of 18 Southland Conference losses, capturing a 78-73 win over Southeastern Louisiana at the American Bank Center on Jan. 14. The Islanders were propelled by three players in double-figure scoring in their first conference win of the season.
The Islanders shot 37.9 percent from the field (25-66), 42.1 percent from behind the arc (8-19) and 74.1 percent from the charity stripe (20-27). Southeastern Louisiana edged the Islanders on the boards 49-41 but the Islanders capitalized on 27 points off the Lady Lions 20 turnovers.
Texas State Head Coach Wins Conference Debut
Head coach Zenarae Antoine won her Southland Conference debut on Jan. 7 in a 70-68 thriller against Northwestern State. Antoine's 9-5 record with Texas State is the best start for the Bobcats since the 2005-06 season. For the first time since the 1994-95 season, Antoine has led the Bobcats to three true non-conference road wins.
Southland Tournament Returns to Katy, Texas
The Southland Conference will again travel to the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas for the league's annual event.
This year's tournament will begin on Tuesday, March 6 as quarterfinal action begins with game one at noon. The semifinals and finals, which will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network, will take place on Thursday, March 8 and the championship game will be played Friday, March 9.
The 2011-12 tournament will be the 13th in league history to be played at a neutral site. The tournament was played in Shreveport, La., from 1995-01 and was held in Houston in 2007 before moving to Katy in 2008.
Southland TV to Broadcast Three Games
The Southland Conference Television Network will televise 15 men's and women's basketball games during the 2011-12 season. The Southland Game of The Week moves from Saturday afternoons to Wednesday nights for two of the three regular-season telecasts. Among the full network schedule are nine men's basketball games, including the two semifinal games of the conference tournament, and six women's games that also include the two conference tournament semifinals as well as the tournament championship game. The entire Southland TV package will be carried across the Southland's network of affiliated television stations, plus online at SLC NOW. Select match-ups will also air nationwide on ESPN Full Court and ESPN3.com.
McNeese State and UTSA Favored in East and West Divisions
The McNeese State and UTSA women's basketball teams have been selected as the preseason favorites to win the Southland Conference East and West Divisions, respectively, by a vote of the league's coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Wednesday.
McNeese State, the defending regular-season and conference tournament champion, received nine first-place votes and 64 points in both the coaches' poll and SID poll, ranking the Cowgirls first in the East Division in both polls. UTSA was picked first in the West Division in both polls. The Roadrunners received six first-place votes in the coaches' poll with 60 points and five first-place votes in the SID poll for 57 points.
The coaches' and SIDs polls differ in the fifth and sixth rankings in the East Division predictions. Central Arkansas, who received two first-place votes in both polls, was picked second. Lamar received a first-place nod from both the coaches and SIDs and was slated for third in the division followed by Northwestern State in fourth. In the coaches' poll, Nicholls State was picked fifth and Southeastern Louisiana was sixth. The SIDs tabbed the Lady Lions fifth and the Colonels sixth in their preseason balloting.
The coaches and SIDs predicted the same order of finish in the West Division. Behind UTSA, Stephen F. Austin was picked to finish second, followed by Sam Houston State, UT Arlington, Texas State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Ladyjacks received four first-place votes in the coaches' poll and three in the SID poll. Sam Houston garnered two first-place votes from the coaches and three from the SIDs while the final first-place vote in the SID poll went to Texas State.
Eight All-Conference Selections Return for 2011-12 Season
Central Arkansas forward Megan Herbert highlights a talented list of players returning for the 2011-12 season, as noted with the release of the Southland Conference women's basketball preseason teams by the league office. Seven universities are represented on the two preseason teams, led by two selections from Lamar, McNeese State and Sam Houston State.
Eight of the 10 players represented on the preseason teams were named all-conference following the 2010-11 season. Herbert was the 2010-11 conference player of the year and McNeese State guard Ashlyn Baggett was the 2011 conference tournament most valuable player. Sam Houston State guard Britni Martin and Lamar guard Kalis Loyd each earned first-team all-conference honors following last season.
Herbert, a native of Rogers, Ark., led the league in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player in conference history to do so. Herbert averaged 17.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while shooting a consistent 56.7 percent from the field.
Ashlyn Baggett played an important role in leading McNeese State to its most successful season in school history with a 26-7 overall record. The 15-1 mark in conference play was the most conference wins in schools history. Ashlyn, whose twin sister Caitlyn earned second-team honors, led the Cowgirls and ranked second in the conference in scoring (16.7), while leading the Cowgirls in 3-point field goal percentage (36.5) and steals (1.5).
Martin, a junior from Conroe, Texas, helped the Bearkats post an 11-5 record in conference play, the most in Sam Houston history, and earn a share of the West Division title last season.
Lamar junior Loyd, a native of Malmoe, Sweden, earned first-team honors last season on the way to helping the Lady Cardinals to a 25-8 overall record and a spot in the WNIT.
Rounding out the preseason first team is Stephen F. Austin senior guard Tammara Marion, who earned second team all-conference honors last season.
McNeese State Claims First Southland Conference Tournament Championship
McNeese State capped off its remarkable turnaround from the 2009-10 season's 7-22 mark with a 71-50 win over Central Arkansas that clinched the women's tournament title for the Cowgirls along with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Ashlyn Baggett keyed the decisive run, scoring nine of her game-high 23 points during a 17-5 run that turned a 37-26 halftime lead into a 54-31 advantage.
McNeese's Caitlyn Baggett had 15 points, six assists and four rebounds while also helping hold Sugar Bears guards Rogers, Nakeia Guiden and Micah Rice to a combined 11 points.
McNeese State Plays Texas A&M in First NCAA Tournament Appearance
McNeese State's record setting season came to an end with an 87-47 NCAA Tournament first round loss to Texas A&M. The Cowgirls ended the season 26-7.
Caitlyn Baggett led the Cowgirls with 22 points, making 10-of-20 from the field and was 1-of-3 from three-point range.
The Cowgirls struggled from the field from the get go and missed shots that would normally fall. McNeese struggled from behind the arc and made four of 17 attempts and was 5-of-10 from the free throw line. The Cowgirls were out rebounded 45-25 by the taller and quicker Aggie inside players.
Lamar Returns to the Postseason with a WNIT Invite
The Lamar University women's basketball team saw its hopes of a postseason title come to an end with a 91-65 loss to Arkansas in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday.
Jenna Plumley, playing in her final game in a Lamar uniform, led the Lady Cardinals with 15 points and four assists. Kalis Loyd had 14 points, while Trashanna Smith, another senior playing her final game for Lamar, had 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Despite the loss, it was still a successful season for the Lady Cardinals, who advanced to postseason play for the second year in a row. Lamar is 51-16 over the last two seasons, which the most wins in the history of the program over that time span.
Central Arkansas Hosts Opening Round of Women's Basketball Invitational
In the school's first-ever NCAA Division I postseason tournament game, a Central Arkansas women's basketball record crowd of 2,953 came out to the Farris Center to watch the Sugar Bears take on UAB in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational. Unfortunately, they did not get to celebrate a UCA victory.
Herbert had 16 points to lead three Sugar Bears in double figures, with Desiree Rogers and Nakeia Guiden each adding 10.
The Sugar Bears ended their first year out of the Division I reclassification period with their second consecutive 21-win season, first Southland Conference tournament appearance and first D-I national postseason tournament appearance.