Opponent: East Texas A&M (12-10, 8-7 SLC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Commerce, Texas (The Field House)
Watch: ESPN+
 
LAKE CHARLES—McNeese women's basketball (21-4, 15-1 SLC) will travel to Commerce, Texas Saturday to face East Texas A&M (12-10, 8-7 SLC).  Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
McNeese will look to not only extend its winning streak but will also look to win a program best 16 conference wins.  The Cowgirls will carry a 14-game winning streak into Commerce, Texas after its 64-59 road win at Northwestern State on Thursday.
ETAM enters the game having won their last five games and are coming off a 66-57 home win over Southeastern on Thursday.
 
• Are in first place in the SLC with a 21-4 overall record and 15-1 conference record.
• Coming off a 64-59 road win at Northwestern State on Thursday
• It's the first 20-win season since 2016
• Tied the most SLC wins in program history on Thursday with its 64-59 road win at Northwestern State. The 2011 team also had 15 SLC wins (15-1).
• 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.
• Are on an overall 14 game winning streak as well as a 14 game SLC winning streak
• Have won 17 of last 19 games
• The last McNeese win in Natchitoches was a 65-41 win on Feb. 13, 2021.
• 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), 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, rebounds (6.0), and steals with 65. She is tied for an SLC high 2.7 spg. She has scored in double figures in 14 out of last 17 games. She is averaging 15.0 ppg. in conference games.
• Arianna Patton leads the team with 60 three-pointers and is second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg.)
• Jalencia Pierre has a team high 88 assists (3.7 apg.) and is second on the team with 51 steals. She leads the SLC and ranks 8th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (2.63). Pierre needs 36 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). scoring margin, steals per game, turnover margin (lead the nation), turnovers forced per game, turnovers per game, and winning percent.