Opponent: UNO (1-17, 1-9 SLC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Lake Charles (Joe Dumars Court at Townsley Law Arena)
Watch: ESPN+
Promotion: Stranger Things


LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball (15-4, 9-1 SLC), atop the league standings, returns home Saturday, Jan. 24 for the first time in since Jan. 10 to host New Orleans at 12 p.m.  The game time has been moved up due to the due to the forecasted winter weather later Saturday evening.

The Cowgirls enter the game on an eight-game winning streak and have also won 12 of their last 14 games following its 72-30 road win at Southeastern on Thursday.
UNO enters the game 1-17 overall and 1-9 in the SLC
 
McNEESE NOTES
• It's the first meeting of the season between the two teams.  The teams will meet in New Orleans on Feb. 28.
• It's the final home game for the Cowgirls in the month of January and the first home game since Jan. 10
• Since Jan. 15, McNeese will end the month of January playing five of its six games on the road
• Remain atop the SLC standings with a 15-4 overall record and 9-1 in the SLC.
• The 9-1 SLC start is the best SLC start in the first 10 games since the 2010-11 team that also started 9-1 in the first 10 SLC games.
• Enter the game on a league best eight game winning streak that started at UIW on Dec. 29
• Have won 12 of last 14 games
• Coming off a 72-30 road win at Southeastern on Thursday
• Enters the game leading the SLC in nine statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, field goal percent defense, scoring defense, scoring margin, steals per game, turnover margin (lead the nation), turnovers forced per game, turnovers per game, and winning percent.
• Enters the game ranked in the Top 25 in five NCAA statistical categories - 1st in turnover margin (13.21), 2nd in scoring defense (51.4), 3rd in Turnovers Per Game (10.8), 7th in steals per game (14.6), and 10th in turnovers forced per game (24.0),
• 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 12.4 ppg. and steals (50/41st in the nation). She is third on the team with 5.2 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 9 out of last 11 games. She is averaging 14.9 ppg. in conference games.
• Lexi Alexander leads the Cowgirls in rebounds with 5.9 per game.
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 64 assists (3.6 apg.) and is second on the team with 36 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks 20th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.56).
• 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).
 
UNO NOTES
• Enter the game 1-17 overall and 1-9 in the SLC
• Are 1-8 on the road this season
• Its the second of three straight road games for the Privateers
• Enter the game on a four-game losing streak
• Only win of the season was a 64-63 road win at Southeaster on Jan. 8
• Coming off a 67-49 loss at Nicholls on Thursday
• Shanihya Brown is the only player averaging in double figures (11.4 ppg.)
• Jayla Kimbrough leads the team with 5.3 rpg.
 
 UPCOMING GAMES
Jan. 24 New Orleans (12 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