Opponent: Lamar (6-5, 3-1 SLC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles (Townsley Law Arena)
Watch: ESPN+
Series:  Series tied at 41 apiece. Lamar has won last 17 meetings


LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball (9-4, 3-1 SLC) returns home Saturday, Jan. 3 for the first time since Dec. 15 to host Lamar (6-5, 3-1 SLC) in the women's version of "Battle of the Border".  Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Townsley Law Arena.  The game will stream on ESPN+.

The game marks the first of three straight home games for the Cowgirls who will also host Nicholls (Jan. 8) and Southeastern (Jan. 10).

Both squads enter the game tied atop the league standings along with NW State, UIW, and Nicholls who are also 3-1 in the SLC heading into Saturday's games.
 
McNEESE NOTES
• First home game since Dec. 15
• It's the first of three straight home games
• Have won six of last eight games
• Will look to end a 17-game losing streak against Lamar
• Last Cowgirl win over Lamar was an 88-78 win on March 11 at the 2016 SLC Tournament in Katy, Texas
• The last Cowgirl home win over Lamar was a 92-84 win on Feb. 20, 2016
• Enter the game with a 9-4 overall record and are one of five teams entering today atop the SLC standings with a 3-1 record.
• Coming off a 63-43 win at Houston Christian on Monday.
• McNeese enters the game leading the SLC in eight statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, scoring defense, scoring margin, steals per game, turnover margin (ranks #2 in the nation), turnovers forced per game and winning percent.
• The Cowgirls rank in the Top 25 in four NCAA statistical categories - 2nd in turnover margin (13.46) 6th in turnovers per game (10.6), 11th in steals per game (14.8), 14th in scoring defense (52.9), and
15th in turnovers forced per game (24.08)
• The Cowgirls' highest NET ranking of 78 (as of Dec. 14, 2025), was the highest in program history.
• Dakota Howard leads the team in scoring with 12.4 ppg. and steals (32), and is tied for a team high with 71 rebounds. She is second on the team with 5.5 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 10 of 13 games this season and has scored in double figures in nine out of last 10 games.  She is averaging 18.8 ppg. in conference games and tied her career high of 20 points against UIW on Monday night.  She is coming off a game high 18 points against HCU on Wednesday.
• Arianna Patton leads the Cowgirls with 27 three-pointers made and is second on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg.)
• Lexi Alexander leads the Cowgirls in rebounds with 5.9 per game.
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 45 assists (3.8 apg.) and is second on the team with 28 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks 47th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.7).
• The Cowgirls have received votes in the College Insider Top 25 Poll four times this season.
• 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.
• All three non-conference losses came against P4 teams (2 from the Big 12 and one from the SEC).
 
LAMAR NOTES
• Enters the game 6-5 overall and are one of five teams with 3-1 conference records
• Are 1-5 in road games after picking up its first road win of the season at East Texas A&M on Wednesday.
• Lead the SLC in offensive rebounds per game (14.2)
• Second in the SLC in steals (14.77)
• Have two players averaging in double figures. Shaila Forman leads the team with 11.5 ppg. and Jacei Denley is averaging 10.1 ppg.
• Salenne Olenga leads the Cardinals with 6.2 rpg.
 
UPCOMING GAMES
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