Opponent: Lamar (13-6, 10-2 SLC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Beaumont, Texas (Neches Arena)
Watch: ESPN+
 
LAKE CHARLES--  The Southland's top two teams will clash in Beaumont, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 31 in the second half of "Battle of the Border" when league leading McNeese women's basketball travels to second place Lamar.  Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at the Neches Arena. 

Both teams also enter the game with the SLC's two current longest winning streaks.  McNeese is on a 10-game winning streak and Lamar is on a seven-game winning streak.

McNeese (17-4, 11-1 SLC) is coming off a 70-64 overtime win at Stephen F. Austin on Thursday that set a new program SLC winning streak to 10 games.

Lamar (13-6, 10-2 SLC) is coming off a 57-44 road win at Southeastern Thursday night.
 
McNeese Notes
• Remain atop the SLC standings with a 17-4 overall record and 11-1 in the SLC.
• It's the fifth road game in the last six games for the Cowgirls.
• It's the second meeting of the Battle of the Border.  McNeese won the first meeting 65-57 in Lake Charles on Jan. 3 that snapped a 17-game losing streak against the Cardinals
• Lamar has won 17 of the last 18 meetings
• Last McNeese win in Beaumont was a 76-69 win on Feb. 24, 2016.
• Looking to sweep Lamar for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
• Coming off a 70-64 overtime win at SFA on Thursday, the first win in Nacogdoches, Texas since 2013.
• Extended its winning streak to 10 games
• The 10 consecutive SLC wins is a program long SLC winning streak
• Rank second the nation in scoring defense.
• For the first time in program history, the Cowgirls broke into the March Madness Mid-Major Poll on Monday, ranking 21st.
• The win over UNO on Jan. 24, gave McNeese 10 conference wins, the first time McNeese has won 10 SLC games since 2016.
• Enter the game on a league best 10 game winning streak that started at UIW on Dec. 29
• Have won 14 of last 16 games
• Enters the game leading the SLC in nine statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, field goal percent defense, scoring defense (2nd in the nation), 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 (13.19), 2nd in scoring defense (51.5), 5th in turnovers per game (11.0), 6th in steals per game (14.9), and 9th in turnovers forced per game (24.19),
• 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 12.7 ppg. and steals with 57. She also leads the SLC with 2.7 spg.  She is tied for a team high 6.0 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 11 out of last 13 games. She is averaging 15.0 ppg. in conference games.
• Lexi Alexander is also tied for a team high 6.0 rpg. She is coming off her third double double of the season
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 71 assists (3.6 apg.) and is second on the team with 42 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks 14th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.64).
• 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 13 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).
 
Lamar Notes
• Enter the game 13-6 overall and 10-2 in the SLC
• Are in second place in the SLC standings, 1 game behind McNeese
• Enter the game on a seven-game winning streak, the second longest streak behind McNeese
•  Coming off a 57-44 road win at Southeastern on Thursday
• Have won the 17 of the last 18 games against McNeese
• Leads the SLC in 3-point field goal percent
• Kamryn Wilson (11.8 ppg.) is the only player averaging in double figures  
 
UPCOMING GAMES
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