LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball will open its 2022-23 season at home Monday, Nov. 7 with an 11 a.m. game against Ecclesia at the Legacy Center.
 
The game has been designated as the Cowgirls' Kids Game in which all 5^th graders in Calcasieu Parish have been invited to attend the game.
 
McNeese under second year head coach Lynn Kennedy is coming off a 13-15 record, return eight letterwinners and redshirt sophomore Autumn Watts from last season.  Kennedy as added four transfers and two freshmen to this year's team that has been picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll.
 
The Cowgirls return their top six scorers and rebounders including sophomore Kaili Chamberlin, the 2021-22 Southland Conference "Freshman of the Year" and the Cowgirls leading scorer who averaged 11.0 ppg. Senior Desirae Hansen finished last season as the Cowgirls' second leading scorer (10.6 ppg.) who had the best 3-point shooting percent (37.6).  Hanson also led the team in rebounds with 5.1 rpg. a year ago.
 
Also returning from a year ago is seniors Le'Shenae Stubblefield, Divine Tanks, Zuzanna Kulinska, sophomores Cristina Gil, Mireia Yespes, and Clara Rosina.
 
The Cowgirl newcomers include graduate transfer Stephanie Guihon (Rutgers), senior transfer Alicja Falkowska (Sacramento State), junior transfer Paris Mullins (Auburn), sophomore transfer Gabrielle Wener (Monmouth) and true freshmen Marta Hermoso and Grace Wener.  
 
Ecclesia (2-1) is from Springdale, Arkansas and a member of the Midwest Christian College Conference.
 
McNeese will remain home for a 7 p.m. game against UTRGV on Thursday, Nov. 10 before hitting the road for a Midwest trip to Illinois and Ohio for four games. The Cowgirls will play at Illinois (Nov. 16), Bradley (Nov. 19), Ohio State (Nov. 20), and Xavier (Nov. 22).