LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – After a two-week layoff, the University of the Incarnate Word basketball teams will play a Southland Conference doubleheader on Thursday at McNeese State.  The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m. and the men's game will be at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The UIW women have played one game since their last conference matchup on February 13.  They lost to NJIT on Saturday at home, 57-48.   The Cardinals (8-16, 2-9) will be attempting to snap an 8-game losing streak.  Rose Whitehead (Grapevine/Grapevine HS) leads the team with 12.8 points per game, but twin sisters Ifunanya and Kosisio Mora (Grand Prairie/Arlington Bowie HS) have been leading the way in recent weeks.  Ify is averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and she leads the team with 90 assists and 35 steals.  Kosy is averaging 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and leads the team with 13 blocks. 

The Cardinals average 61.3 points per game and are shooting 37.3 percent from the field.  Their opponents average 66.1 points per game and are shooting 42.1 percent from the floor.

The McNeese State women enter the game with a 15-10 record and 8-6 mark in the conference and are competing for a top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.  Allison Baggett leads the team with 17.6 points per game and grabs 4.0 rebounds.  Cecilia Okoye is the top rebounder on the squad with 8.9 per game and she chips in 11.1 points per game.  Point guard Jayln Johnson runs the show and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.0 assists per game.  They average 66.4 points per game as a team and are shooting 38.3 percent from the field.

The UIW men will try to avoid the rust of a 14-day break between ball games.  They last played on February 13 when they defeated Abilene Christian, 80-68.  The Cardinals (19-5, 7-4) are the only NCAA DI transitional school this year with a winning record against other DI schools.  Denzel Livingston (Houston/Waltrip HS) headlines a strong team with his 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.  Kyle Hittle (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) throws in 17.1 points per game while Anthony Horton (League City/Clear Creek HS) and Sam Burmeister (San Antonio/Churchill HS) each score over 11 points per game.  The Cardinals are one of the top scoring teams in the country with 84.0 points per game.

The McNeese State men are only 8-18, but they are 6-8 in the conference.  Ledrick Eackles leads the team with 16.5 points per game and he chips in 5.0 rebounds per game.  Desharick Guidry averages a near double-double with 10.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.  They average 66.8 points per game, but are allowing 76.3 points per game.
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