Opponent: Alabama
Date: Thursday, Nov. 6
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Coleman Coliseum)
Stream: SECN+
Series Record: Alabama leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 19, 2016- Alabama won 84-63 at the Patrick Harrington Classic (Niceville, Fla.)  

 
LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball will get their first real test of the season Thursday night when the Cowgirls travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to face the University of Alabama.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will stream on SECN+.
 
McNeese (1-0) began the Ayla Guzzardo era with a 100-38 home win against Pensacola Christian College on Monday.  Three Cowgirls scored in double figures with senior Arianna Patton leading the way with a career high 19 points.
 
Alabama (1-0) opened its season with an 82-73 home win over Stetson on Monday.  The Tide, who advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season were picked to finish 9^th in the SEC Preseason Poll.  
 
About Alabama
• Member of the SEC
• Will be the only SEC team the Cowgirls play during the regular season
• Picked to finish 9th in SEC Preseason Poll
• Opened the season with an 82-73 home win over Stetson on Nov. 3.
• Advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season where they lost to Maryland in the second round
• Alabama Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Brooks Donald Williams was McNeese's head coach from 2008-2016.  Williams is McNeese's winningest coach with 161 and led the Cowgirls to its only NCAA Tournaments in 2011 and 2012. 
 
McNeese Notes
• It's the first of two straight road games for the Cowgirls.  McNeese will travel to Tarleton State on Nov. 16 in its next game.
• The Ayla Guzzardo era began with a 100-38 home win over Pensacola Christian College on Monday, Nov. 3.
• The 100-point game was the 20th time a McNeese team scored 100 points.
• All 12 players dressed out played,  11 of the 12 played at least 10 minutes
• Three Cowgirls scored in double figures in the win.
• Senior Arianna Patton led McNeese with a career high 19 points.  Patton was 7 of 13 from the field including 5 of 10 from three-point range.
• Freshman Dakota Howard was in the starting lineup in her collegiate game.  Howard ended the game with 19 points.
• Senior Allasia Washington chipped in with 10 points.
• Senior Jalencia Pierre was credited with a career high 11 assists.
• 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.
 
Upcoming Games
Nov. 6 at Alabama (6 p.m.)
Nov. 16 at Tarleton State (2 p.m.)
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