Opponent: Incarnate Word (4-5, 2-0 SLC)
Date: Monday, Dec. 29, 2025
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: San Antonio, Texas (McDermott Center)
Watch: ESPN+
Series: UIW leads 10-7 and have won the last four meetings


LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball (7-4, 1-1 SLC) returns to action Monday, Dec. 29 following a 14-day Christmas break.  The Cowgirls will travel to San Antionio, Texas to face Incarnate Word (4-5, 2-0 SLC) at 6 p.m. in the Cowgirls first SLC road contest of the season.  The game will stream on ESPN+.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• Enter the game with a 7-4 overall record and 1-1 SLC record.
• It's the Cowgirls first game since beginning its Christmas break following its Dec. 15 home game against NW State
• First conference road game of the season for the Cowgirls and first of two games in this Texas road trip.
• Have won four of last six games
• Coming off a 65-58 home loss to NW State on Dec. 15
• All three non-conference losses come 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 it's the most wins prior to the end of December since the 2017-18 when that team also won six games.
• McNeese enters the game leading the SLC in eight statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, scoring defense, scoring margin, steals per game turnover margin, turnovers forced per game and winning percent.
• The Cowgirls rank in the Top 25 in six NCAA statistical categories - 2nd in turnover margin (13.91) 5th in turnovers per game (10.5), 7th in steals per game (15.3), 12th in turnovers forced per game (24.36), 22nd in assists/turnover ratio (1.33), and 23rd in scoring defense (53.8).
• The Cowgirls' highest NET ranking of 78 (Dec. 14, 2025), is the highest in program history.
• Dakota Howard leads the team in scoring (11.2 ppg.) and in steals with 26. She is second on the team with 5.3 rpg. and has scored in double figures in seven of last eight games.
• Arianna Patton leads the Cowgirls with 27 three-pointers made and is second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg.)
• Lexi Alexander leads the Cowgirls in rebounds with 5.9 per game.
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 41 assists (4.1 apg.) and is second on the team with 24 steals.
• 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 Ayla Guzzardo era began with a 100- 38 home win over Pensacola Christian College on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
• 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
• UIW Enters the game with a 4-5 overall record and 2-0 SLC record
• Are one of two undefeated teams in SLC games. Northwestern State, who is off Monday tonight, is atop the SLC standings at 3-0.
• It's the SLC home opener for the Cardinals and the first of three straight home games
• UIW is coming off a 79-68 road win at UNO on Dec. 18. They defeated Nicholls 54-52 on Dec. 16 in its SLC opener in Thibodaux.
• Hold a 10-7 series record over the Cowgirls and have won the last four meetings including both meetings last season
 
 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. 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