EUNICE, La. – The LSU Eunice Women's Basketball team will head to Meridian CC on Thursday, March 4 to open the Region 23/Gulf District Tournament, the NJCAA announced on Monday night.  The Bengals (19-11, 8-1 LACCC) are the nine-seed in the 12-team single elimination tournament.
 
The winner of the Region 23/Gulf District tournament will receive an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Tournament set for March 25-April 1 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming.
 
The Bengals secured an automatic berth into the Region 23/Gulf District Tournament after capturing the Louisiana Community Colleges Athletic Conference (LCCAC) regular season championship with an 8-1 record in league play.  It was LSU Eunice's first conference title in four years, eclipsing the Bengals' win total in conference games from the last two years combined.
 
Kamiera McDonald (Baton Rouge, LA, Scotlandville HS) leads LSUE with 15.0 points per game.  The freshman is joined by a three-headed scoring machine with Mariah Heard (Bastrop, LA, Bastrop HS) and Simone Clay (Bloomington, MN, Bloomington Jefferson HS).  Heard averages 12.9 points per game, while Clay pours in 10.6 a game including 39.0 percent from three-point range.
 
Heard is also the leading rebounder on the team with 5.3 boards per game.
 
Defense has been the Bengals' calling card during the season, leading the NJCAA with 17.7 steals and 28.0 turnovers per game.
 
Meridian heads into the postseason with a 15-14 overall record and 7-7 in MACCC play.  The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Annearrea Ducksworth, averaging 11.6 points per game.  MCC is fifth nationally in free throw attempts per game, making 22.9 attempts from the charity stripe per game.
 
The contest will mark the 10th all-time meeting between the Bengals and Eagles.  LSUE has won the last two meetings, including a 65-60 victory in 2021 at home.  Meridian leads the all-time series 3-6 with this being the first time they have met in postseason play.
 
 
2025 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball
Region 23/Gulf District Tournament
 
First Round – Thursday, March 6 (Higher Seed Host)
5. Mississippi Delta CC (18-6, 8-6 MACCC) vs. 12. East Mississippi CC (10-16, 5-9 MACCC)
6. SW Mississippi CC (17-10, 7-7 MACCC) vs. 11. NW Mississippi CC (10-14, 6-8 MACCC)
7. Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (13-13, 7-7 MACCC) vs. 10. Holmes CC (13-16, 6-8 MACCC)
8. Meridian CC (15-14, 7-7 MACCC) vs. 9. LSU Eunice (19-11, 8-1 LACCC)
 
Quarterfinal Round – Monday, March 10 (Higher Seed Host)
1.Pearl River CC (24-2, 13-1 MACCC) vs. Meridian/LSUE Winner
2.Itawamba CC (22-5, 12-2 MACCC) vs. MGCCC/Holmes Winner
3.Coahoma CC (21-4, 11-3 MACCC) vs. SMCC/NMCC Winner
4.NE Mississippi CC (17-12, 9-5 MACCC) vs. MDCC/EMCC Winner
 
Semifinal Round – Friday, March 14 (Pearl River CC Hosts)
Quarterfinal 1 vs. Quarterfinal 2 Winners – Time TBA
Quarterfinal 3 vs. Quarterfinal 3 Winners – Time TBA
 
Championship Game – Saturday, March 15 (Pearl River CC Hosts)
Semifinal Winners – Time TBA
***Winner receives Gulf District automatic berth into NJCAA Division I Women's National Tournament***