Opponent: East Texas A&M
Date: Friday, Dec. 12
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles (Townsley Law Arena)
Watch: ESPN+
Promotion: $5 General Admission tickets with a Toys For Tots donation
 
 
LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball returns home Friday night for the first time since Nov. 22 to open Southland Conference action against East Texas A&M.  The game will stream on ESPN+.
 
Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. and fans can purchase a $5 General Admission ticket with a donation for Toys for Tots. 
 
McNeese (6-3, 0-0 SLC) returns home after being on the road for its last five games in the Bahamas, Utah, and Arizona where the Cowgirls posted a combined 3-2 record.
 
The six wins  marks the first time the Cowgirls have won six game prior to the end of December since the 2017-18 season.
 
The three losses have come against Power 4 teams including two from the Big 12 and one from the SEC.
 
East Texas A&M (3-4, 0-1 SLC) got an early start in conference play where they lost 76-71 at Southeastern on Nov. 22.
 
The Lions hold a 4-2 series record over the Cowgirls and have win three of the last four meetings.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• Returning home for the first time since Nov. 22
• It's the SLC opener for the Cowgirls and the second SLC game for East Texas A&M
• Enter the game with a 6-3 record with all three losses coming against P4 teams (2 from the Big 12 and one from the SEC).
• The six non-conference wins are the most for a Cowgirl team since the 2015-16 season and its the most wins prior to the end of December since the 2017-18 when that team also won six games.
• Coming off a five-game road trip that saw the Cowgirls post a 3-2 record including 1-1 records at both the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship and the Briann January Classic with a win at Utah Tech in between both tournaments.
• McNeese has had four players score in double figures four of last six games.
• Arianna Patton continues to lead the team in scoring (12.3 ppg.) and 3-pointers made (25)
• The Cowgirls have two players averaging at least five rebounds a game (Alexander-5.8, Howard- 5.7).
• McNeese enters the game ranked third in the nation in turnover margin (13.3) and 8th with 14.9 steals per game.  
• The Cowgirls have received votes in the College Insider Top 25 Poll four times this season.
• In 2011-12, McNeese ranked 18th in the College Insider Top 25 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.
• The Cowgirls have a NET ranking of 88 entering the game, its highest in program history.
• The Ayla Guzzardo era began with a 100-38 home win over Pensacola Christian College on Monday, Nov. 3.
• 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 Guzzardo's former Southeastern players and recruits 
• Guzzardo brought nine players from her 2024-25 Southeastern team and entire staff, including managers 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).
 
THE OPPONENT
• Enters the game 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the SLC
• Opened conference play with a 76-71 road loss at Southeastern on Nov. 22
• Have lost three of its last four games
• Have won three of the last four games against McNeese
 
   
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
Dec. 12 East Texas A&M (5 p.m.)*
Dec. 15 Northwestern State (6:30 p.m.)*
Dec. 29 at Incarnate Word (6 p.m.)*
Dec. 31 at Houston Christian (2 p.m.)*
Jan. 3 Lamar (1 p.m.)*
Jan. 8 Nicholls (6:30 p.m.)*
Jan. 10 Southeastern (1 p.m.)*
Jan. 15 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7 p.m.)*
Jan. 17 at UTRGV (2 p.m.)*
Jan. 22 at Southeastern (6 p.m.)*
Jan. 24 New Orleans (1 p.m.)*
Jan. 29 at Stephen F. Austin (6 p.m.)*
Jan. 31 at Lamar (3 p.m.)*
 
Home Games in BOLD
*- Southland Conference Opener