Opponent: Tarleton State
Date: Sunday, Nov. 16
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Stephenville, Texas (EECU Center)
Stream: ESPN+
Series Record: Tarleton State leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 16, 2023 in Lake Charles, TS won 88-64
 
 
LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball (1-1) will travel to Stephenville, Texas for a rare Sunday game for the Cowgirls to face Tarleton State (2-2).  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.
 
The Cowgirls return to the court for the first time in 10 days since their last game, a 64-44 road loss at Alabama.
 
As a team, McNeese ranks sixth in the nation in assists/turnover ratio (2.06) and eighth in steals per game (18.0). 
 
The Cowgirls have three players averaging in double figures (Arianna Patton- 12.0 ppg.), Dakota Howard (11.5 ppg.), and Tyreona Sibley (10.5 pp.).  Howard, Sibley and Lexi Alexander lead the team with 5.0 rpg.  Jalencia Pierre is averaging 7.5 apg. which ranks her 10^th in the nation.
 
Tarleton State (2-2) will play its fifth home game to start the season.  The Texas have wins over Schreiner (90-35) and a 75-71 double overtime win over Houston Christian.  They are coming off a 79-64 road loss at Texas A&M on Thursday.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• It's the second of two straight road games for the Cowgirls. 
• Cowgirls are coming off a 66-44 road loss at Alabama on Nov. 6.
• McNeese held a 29-25 halftime lead, but Alabama outscored the Cowgirls 39-15 in the second half.
• Tyreona Sibley scored a career high 12 points against the Tide and was the only Cowgirl to reach double figures.
• The Ayla Guzzardo era began with a 100-38 home win over Pensacola Christian College on Monday, Nov. 3.
• The 100-point game against Pensacola Christian College was the 20th time a McNeese team scored 100 points.
• McNeese enters the game with three players averaging in double figures. 
• Arianna Patton leads the team with 12.0 ppg., Dakota Howard is averaging 11.5 ppg., and Tyreona Sibley is averaging 10.5 ppg.
• Freshman Dakota Howard made her collegiate debut as a starter against Pensacola Christian College. Howard ended the game with 19 points.
• McNeese has 13 newcomers, which ranks tied for fourth most in the NCAA. Three other teams (Northern Arizona, Indiana State, UL-Monroe) all have 14 newcomers. Of the 13 newcomers, nine are D1 transfers which is tied for most in the NCAA this season.
• All 13 newcomers are either her former Southeastern players and recruits
• Guzzardo brought nine players from her 2024-25 Southeastern team and entire staff, including managers with her to McNeese.
• Guzzardo also brought her three early freshmen signees and one JUCO transfer with her to McNeese
• The 2025-26 roster consists of two-time Southland "Defensive Player of the Year" in Jalencia Pierre.
• Also on the team are two Southland "Freshmen of the Year- Kaili Chamberlin (2022) and Lexi Alexander (2023).
• Chamberlin began her playing career (2021-22) at McNeese and will complete her career at McNeese (2025-26).
• McNeese will play 13 home games this  including two non-conference home games.  The Cowgirls opened the season against Pensacola Christian on Nov. 3 and will host LSU-Alexandria on Nov. 22.
 
Mid-Major Top 25 Poll on Oct. 27.
• For the second time in program history, McNeese received votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll on Oct. 27.
• In 2011-12, McNeese ranked 18th in the preseason poll, the last time McNeese made it to the NCAA Tournament.  McNeese ranked four other times in that poll during the 2011-12 season, ranking as high as 11th on Dec. 13, 2011.
   
Two Regular Season Tournaments On The Schedule
• The Cowgirls will take part in two tournaments, the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship in the Nassau, Bahamas (Nov. 24-26). McNeese will play West Virginia in the opening round on Nov. 24 then either Ohio State or Belmont on Nov. 26.
• McNeese will also take part in the Briann January Classic-hosted by Arizona State (Dec. 5-6). The Cowgirls will take on Arizona State on Dec. 5 and Nevada on Dec. 6.
 
Same Building-New Name
• McNeese renamed its former home facility (Legacy Center) to the Townsley Law Arena on Oct. 7, 2025, following a 4.5 million dollar, 15-year naming rights deal.  The deal is believed to be the largest basketball naming rights deal in the Southland Conference.  The Townsley Law Firm has been a fixture in Southwest Louisiana since 1995 and is currently the largest medical malpractice law firm in Louisiana.
 
THE OPPONENT
• Member of the WAC
• Picked to finish 5th in WAC Preseason Poll
• Senior guard Jakoriah Long was named to the preseason All-WAC team.
• Enter the game with a 2-2 record following its 79-64 road loss at Texas A&M on Thursday.
 
UPCOMING GAMES
Nov. 22 LSU-Alexandria (1 p.m.)
Nov. 24-26 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship
Dec. 2  at Utah Tech
Dec. 5-6 at Briann January Classic (Tempe, Ariz.)
Dec. 12 East Texas A&M (5 p.m.)*
 
Home Games in BOLD
*- Southland Conference Opener