Furman vs. McNeese State Game Notes (PDF)

2015 WBI Tournament Bracket (PDF)

LAKE CHARLES, LA. -- Furman tips off Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) Tournament play tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT (8:00 ET) when it takes on McNeese State in a first round matchup at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

McNeese State will offer video and audio live streams of the game, as well as live stats — all of which are accessible via links at FurmanPaladins.com.  Fans can also track the action via twitter @FurmanWBB

The winner of the Furman (19-13) versus McNeese State (17-13) game will play the winner of the Texas-Pan American vs. Louisiana-Lafayette first round clash.

If Furman and Texas-Pan American win, the Paladins will host the second round contest on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET at Timmons Arena.  Opening round wins by Furman and Louisiana-Lafayette would keep the Paladins in Louisiana to face the Ragin' Cajuns in Lafayette on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. CT (8:00 ET).

Sixteen teams comprise the WBI Tournament that is divided into East and West Regions.  Furman is the No. 3 seed in the eight-team West Region, and McNeese is the No. 6 seed.

Furman's WBI appearance is the program's first since the tournament originated in 2010 and second straight post-season berth.  Last year the Paladins played Auburn in the WNIT.  Furman has also been to a pair of NCAA Tournaments (1995 & 2000).

The Paladins finished fifth in the Southern Conference regular season this year and beat fourth-seed Samford, 65-54, in SoCon Tournament quarterfinal round action before dropping a 68-55 verdict to regular season and eventual tournament champion Chattanooga.

Furman is led by a pair of consensus first team All-SoCon performers — senior forward Brittany Hodges (13.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) and sophomore point guard Whitney Bunn (14.6 ppg, 223 assists) — and junior Holli Wilkins (12.3 ppg), a 2014 All-SoCon honoree.

Hodges, who tops the SoCon and ranks seventh nationally in field goal percentage (58.6%), tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds against Chattanooga for her 34th career double-double.  Bunn, meanwhile, combined to score 42 points and drain 10-of-15 3-pointers in the Paladins' two SoCon Tournament games, including a tournament record tying 7-of-9 treys (24 points) versus Samford.  Her 223 assists is a Furman record and ranks fifth nationally (7.0 apg).
 
Furman tops the league and ranks 16th nationally in 3-point shooting (37.0%), boasting three players — Kelsey Ellis (39.8%/2nd), Allison Beasley (38.4%/3rd), and Bunn (38.2%/6th) — among the SoCon's Top 10 long range shooters.

McNeese State, which dropped a 70-68 verdict to Houston Baptist in a first round clash in the Southland Conference Tournament, is making its fifth straight post-season appearance and third consecutive trip to the WBI.

The Cowgirls are paced by a pair of All-Southland Conference junior guards — 5-foot-9 Allison Baggett (16.2 ppg, 34.0 3PFG%) and 5-foot-5 Jayln Johnson (13.4 ppg, 5.6 apg).  Forwards Talisa Boyd (7.7 prg) and Frederica Haywood (7.0 rpg) lead the McNeese State frontcourt.

Hunter Reid, Furman Sports Information