Opponent: Northwestern State (11-11, 8-6 SLC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Natchitoches, La. (Prather Coliseum)
Watch: ESPN+
 
LAKE CHARLES--  First place McNeese women's basketball will look to tie the programs Southland Conference season wins record of 15 Thursday night when the Cowgirls travel to Natchitoches to face Northwestern State (11-11, 8-6 SLC).  The 2010-11 team won 15 conference games and ended the season with a 15-1 SLC record.  Tipoff is set for 6:30 pm. at Prather Coliseum and the game will stream on ESPN+.
The Cowgirls (20-4, 14-1 SLC) will carry a 13-game winning streak, tied for the nation's ninth longest winning streak this season into Natchitoches. 
McNeese will also be looking to avenge a 65-58 home loss to NW State on Dec. 15, 2025 in the Cowgirls' second conference game of the season.  The loss is the only SLC loss and home loss the Cowgirls have suffered this season.
McNeese has lost the last six meeting against NW State and haven't won in Prather Coliseum since its 65-41 win in 2021. 
 
McNeese Notes
• Are in first place in the SLC with a 20-4 overall record and 14-1 conference record.
• A win Thursday night would tie the most conference wins in a season.  The 2011 team went 15-1 in the SLC this season.
• The only SLC loss this season was a 65-58 home loss against Northwestern State on Dec. 15, the second SLC game of the season.
• The last McNeese win in Natchitoches was a 65-41 win on Feb. 13, 2021.
• On an overall 13 game winning streak and a 13 SLC game winning streak
• Have won 16 of last 18 games
• The 20-wins is the first 20-win season since 2016
• Coming off a 75-54 home over Incarnate Word last Saturday.
• Head coach Ayla Guzzardo picked her 100th career Southland Conference win on Feb. 5 2026 with an 83-35 home win over Houston Christian.
• Lead the nation in turnover margin and rank second in scoring defense.
• Rank 14th in this week's March Madness Mid-Major Poll
• Enter the game leading the SLC in eight statistical categories (Assists/Turnover Ratio, 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.
• Enter the game ranked in the Top 25 in eight NCAA statistical categories - 1st in turnover margin (13.58), 2nd in scoring defense (51.0), 4th in turnovers per game (10.9), 6th in steals per game (15.1), and 8th in turnovers forced per game (24.50), 21st in scoring margin (18.0) and wining percent (83.3), 23rd in assists/turnover ratio (1.26)
• 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 13.0 ppg. and steals with 60. She is tied for an SLC high  2.7 spg.  She is tied for a team high 5.9 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 13 out of last 16 games. She is averaging 15.2ppg. in conference games.
• Lexi Alexander is also tied for a team high 5.9 rpg. She has three double doubles this season.
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 84 assists (3.7 apg.) and is second on the team with 49 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks 8th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.63).   Pierre needs 50 points to reach 1,000 career points.
• 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).
 
Northwestern State Notes
• Enter the game 11-11 overall and 8-6 in the SLC
• Are 5-2 at home
• Are on a two-game losing streak
• Coming off road losses at Lamar at East Texas A&M last week
• Second in the SLC with a 33.4 three-point field goal percent and three-pointers per game (7.2)
• Third in the SLC in rebounds (38.1)
• Atamah Vernell leads the SLC in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and is fourth in 3-pt. field goal percent (38.8)
• Carla Celaya is second in the SLC with 5.6 rpg.
• Hold a series record of 66-35 over the Cowgirls
• The have won the last six meetings against McNeese including a 65-58 win in Lake Charles on Feb. 15, 2025.
• Are the only team to hand the Cowgirls a SLC and home loss this season.
 
UPCOMING GAMES
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