Opponent: Southeastern (2-14, 1-8 SLC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Hammond, La. (University Center)
Watch: ESPN+



LAKE CHARLES—First place McNeese women's basketball (14-4, 8-1 SLC) will travel to Hammond this Thursday, Jan. 22 to face Southeastern (2-14, 1-8 SLC) in a game that marks the second half of conference action.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at the University Center and the game will stream on ESPN+.

McNeese (14-4, 8-1 SLC) will carry a seven-game winning streak into Hammond and it's the third straight road game in a wee for the Cowgirls. The seven-game winning streak is currently the longest in the Southland Conference.  The Cowgirls are coming off a 70-54 road win at UTRGV last Saturday.

As a team, the Cowgirls lead the nation in turnover margin (13.17), rank second in turnovers per game (10.8), third in scoring defense (52.6), seventh in steals per game (14.9), and 11^th in turnovers forced per game (23.94).

Freshman Dakota Howard, who recorded her first career double double (23 pts., 10 reb.) against Southeastern on Jan. 10, continues to lead McNeese in scoring (12.0 ppg.), steals (48), and is second on the team with 95 total rebounds.  Howard is second on the team with 5.3 rpg. and leads the SLC in steals with 2.67 per game.

Graduate Arianna Patton leads the team with 42 three-pointers made and is second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg.).  Patton ranks second in the SLC in three-point percent (40.0), third in three-pointers made and three-pointers attempted per game (2.33). 

Senior Lexi Alexander leads the Cowgirls with 5.7 rpg. and is averaging 8.8 ppg.

Senior Jalencia Pierre has a team high 62 assists for an average of 3.6 per game which ranks her fourth in the SLC.  Pierre leads the SLC and ranks 24^th in the nation in assists/turnover ratio (1.27).
 
McNEESE NOTES
• It's the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
• McNeese defeated the Lady Lions 77-55 in Lake Charles on Jan. 10.
• It's a homecoming for head coach Ayla Guzzardo and Jalencia Pierre.  Guzzardo is from Hammond and Pierre is from Springfield, La.
• It's the third straight road game for the Cowgirls
• Since Jan. 15, McNeese will end the month of January playing five of its six games on the road
• Enter the game atop the SLC standings with a 14-4 overall record and 8-1 in the SLC.
• Enter the game on a seven game winning streak that started at UIW on Dec. 29
• Have won 11 of last 13 games
• Coming off a 70-54 road win at UTRGV last Saturday.
• Enters the week leading the SLC in eight statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, scoring defense, scoring margin, steals per game, turnover margin (lead the nation), turnovers forced per game, turnovers per game, and winning percent.
• Entering this week, McNeese ranked in the Top 25 in six NCAA statistical categories - 1st in turnover margin (13.17), 2nd in turnovers per game (10.8), 3rd in scoring defense (52.6), 7th in steals per game (14.9), and 11th in turnovers forced per game (23.94), 24th in assists/turnover ratio (1.27)
• The Cowgirls' NET ranking of 78 (Dec. 14, 2025), was the highest in program history.
• Freshman Dakota Howard continues to lead the team in scoring with 12.0 ppg., steals (48/ 39th in the nation), total rebounds (95). She is second on the team with 5.3 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 12 out of last 151 games. She is averaging 14.4 ppg. in conference games.
• Lexi Alexander leads the Cowgirls in rebounds with 5.7 per game.
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 62 assists (3.6 apg.) and is second on the team with 64 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks 24th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.58).
• The Cowgirls have received votes in the College Insider Top 25 Poll six 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).
• 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).
 
 
 
SOUTHEASTERN NOTES
• Enter the game 2-14 overall and 1-8 in the SLC
• Are 2-4 at home this season
• Will be the first of three straight home games for the Lady Lions
• Have lost their last 11 games
• Last win was a 76-71 home win against East Texas A&M in its SLC opener on Nov. 22
• Coming off a 68-65 road loss at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
• Have two players currently averaging in double figures.  Aliyah Collins leads the team with 13.6 ppg. and Lihi Azouri is averaging 1.5 ppg.
• Eryn McKenzie leads the Lady Lions in rebounds with 5.0 per game.
 
 
UPCOMING GAMES
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.)*
Feb. 5 Houston Christian (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 7 Incarnate Word (1 p.m.)*
Feb. 12 at Northwestern State (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 14 at East Texas A&M (2:30 p.m.)
Feb. 19 UTRGV (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 21 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1 p.m.)*
Feb. 26 at Nicholls (6:30 p.m.)*
Feb. 28 at UNO (2 p.m.)*
Mar. 2 Stephen F. Austin (6:30 p.m.)*
 
Home Games in BOLD
*- Southland Conference Opener