EUNICE, La. –  LSU Eunice women's basketball welcomes East Central CC to town on Monday, April 5 for the Region 23 Quarterfinals.  The Bengals (17-3) are in search of the program's second straight Region 23 semifinal appearance.
 
Game time from the HPRE Center is set for 6:00PM.
 
The fifth-seeded Bengals advanced after a 58-46 victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast CC.  LSUE was led by a near triple-double from Alona Washington (Gonzales, LA, Ascension Christian HS).  The sophomore finished with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assist while adding five steals.  Tahjea Smith (Texas City, TX, Texas City HS) added 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Trinity Harold (Denham Springs, LA, Walker HS) connected on 4 big three pointers.
 
Washington is the second leading scorer in Region 23, averaging 16.6 points per game.
 
It's the second straight year LSUE has won a Region 23 postseason game under Jaime Gonzales.  The Bengals had previously not a postseason game in 11 years.
 
East Central is the "Cinderella" of the new format in the Region 23 Tournament.  The Warriors were the lone seeded upset of the first round, taking down No. 4 Meridian 52-43.  ECCC is led by the duo of Sylvia Jones and Wynter Taylor, both averaging 8.6 points per contest.
 
The two teams met a year ago at the ECCC Classic with the Bengals escaping with a 77-73 victory.
 
NJCAA Women's Basketball Region 23 Tournament
Play-In Round
Monday, March 29
(Higher seed hosts)
No. 17 Hinds 50,  No. 16 Mississippi Delta 70 F
No. 18 Southern-Shreveport  48,  No. 15 Baton Rouge  68  F
No. 19 Northeast Mississippi 61,  No. 14 Northwest Mississippi 72 F
 
First Round
Wednesday, March 31
(Higher seed hosts)
No. 16 Mississippi Delta 55,  No. 1 Jones 86 F
No. 15 Baton Rouge CC 50,  No. 2 Coahoma 73 F
No. 14 Northwest Mississippi 68,  No. 3 Itawamba 78 F
No. 13 East Central 52, No. 4 Meridian 43 F
No. 12 Gulf Coast 46,  No. 5 LSU Eunice  58 F
No. 11 Copiah-Lincoln 49,  No. 6 East Mississippi 69 F
No. 10 Holmes 56,  No. 7 Southwest 72 F
No. 9 Delgado 42,  No. 8 Pearl River 64 F
 
Quarterfinals
Monday, April 5 – All Games at 6PM
(Higher seed hosts)
No. 8 Pearl River at No. 1 Jones
No. 7 Southwest at No. 2 Coahoma
No. 6 East Mississippi at No. 3 Itawamba
No. 13 East Central at No. 5 LSU Eunice

Semifinals
Wednesday, April 7 – Game Times TBD
(Mississippi College | Clinton, Miss.)
 
Championship
Friday, April 9 – Game Time TBD
(Mississippi College | Clinton, Miss.)