JACKSON, Miss. - The Southwestern women's basketball team enters the SCAC Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year, this season as the #3 seed in the West, to face #2 East seed Centre on Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm at Millsaps.

This is the 29th meeting (14-14) of the two teams including earlier this season when Southwestern defeated the Colonels 77-73 at home on January 21st.

The match-up in the tournament looks to be a close one as well as the teams are evenly matched. The Pirates are second in the conference in points scored, averaging 70.7 points per game, while Centre is third in the conference averaging 68.1 points per game. The Colonols are holding teams to just over 62 points and will undoubtedly be a goal, albiet a difficult one, as they face Southwestern.

Centre has a slight advantage in field goal percentage, however, shooting 41.8% from the field while SU shoots 40.1% but the Pirates get the most out of their shots, shooting 33.2% from long range while Centre shoots just 31.9% from three point range.

Southwestern has four players averaging in double figures for the season which will make the Pirates hard to stop offensively. First year Chelsea Leeder leads the way averaging 14 points per game with senior Shae Seagraves and junior Anna Fareed close behind at 13.9 and 13.8 point per game respectively. Senior Staley Mullins adds in a consistent 10 points a night. This balanced offensive attack keeps opponents on their toes, never knowing who is going to strike next.

The Colonols have just two players averaging in double figures led by Maggie Prewitt's 18.8 points per game. Prewitt makes her impact felt from the three point line where she is leading the team in three point percentage at 42.1% (56-133). Prewitt is second in the conference in both statistical categories. Following up Prewitt is Chelsea Benham, Centre's inside presence, who is averaging 11.1 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field (103-200; 51.5%) which is also second in the conference.

Rebounding will be a huge key for the winning team as both squads are equal on the boards; Southwestern averages 38.8 rebounds per game while Centre averages 38.4. Mullins leads the way on the boards for the Pirates averaging seven a game while Leeder pulls down her fair share at 6.5 a game. Sophomore Katelyn Bartell's ability to crash from the perimeter and track down a loose rebound makes her Southwestern's third leading rebounder at six a game and will surely be a handful and a point of emphasis for the Colonels. 

Lauren Huter grabs 7.2 rebounds per game as Centre's leading rebounder, but the remainder of the duties falls on the team as no one player averages more than 5.5 per game.

In the first meeting this season Southwestern shot lights out in the first half to build up a lead but allowed Centre to hang close after committing turnovers. The game remained tight throughout the contest and with two minutes remaining it was tied 68-68. SU's tight defense forced the Colonels into turnovers which were converted to Pirate points, aiding Southwestern in the win.

Game time is set for 3:00 pm CST on Friday For those unable to make the trip to Jackson, Miss. there will be LIVE VIDEO and AUDIO of the game available.