FRISCO, Texas--  After running through the Southland Conference on its way to winning the 2026 regular season title, McNeese women's basketball added a few more honors with the announcement of the All-SLC team today.

Senior Jalencia Pierre and freshman Dakota Howard were both named to the team as well as earning individual superlatives along with head coach Ayla Guzzardo being named "Coach of the Year".  Pierre was also named "Defensive Player of the Year" and Howard was named "Freshman of the Year".

Pierre, a native of Springfield, La. was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight year and it's the first honor for McNeese in program history.  She was also named to the second team after averaging 2.1 steals per game.  Pierre led the SLC and ranks 19^th in the nation in assists/turnover ratio. 

Howard, a native of Bossier City, La., becomes the fourth Cowgirl to be named Freshman of the Year and is the first since 2022 when teammate Kaili Chamberlin earned the honor.  Howard was also a first team all-conference selection after leading McNeese in scoring (12.9 ppg.), steals (84) field goal percent (49.5) and rebounds (6.1 rpg.). Howard also led the Cowgirls in scoring in 20 games and recorded four double doubles.  She also led the SLC in steals (84) and steals per game (2.8).
 
Guzzardo was named Coach of the Year for the second straight year and third honor in the last four years after leading McNeese to the nation's best D1 turnaround (17 game turnaround) and win differential in the county. Guzzardo led the Cowgirls to its first SLC regular season title since 2011, a school record 27 wins (27-4) and a conference record 21 wins (21-1). 
 
Guzzardo is the first McNeese head coach to win at least 22 games in her first season as head coach and is the first McNeese head coach to win 20 games the fastest in school history (20 wins in first 24 games).
 
The 20-SLC wins is the first time McNeese wins 20 SLC games since 2016 and the SLC winning streak is the best conference winning streak in program history. 
 
She guided the Cowgirls to a school record 20 game winning streak, the fourth current longest in D1 this season that is currently active. 
 
Player of the Year - Vernell Atamah, Northwestern State
Defensive Player of the Year - Jalencia Pierre, McNeese 
Coach of the Year - Ayla Guzzardo, McNeese
Freshman of the Year - Dakota Howard, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year - Jalayah Ingram, UTRGV
 
First Team All-Conference
Dakota Howard, McNeese
Vernell Atamah, Northwestern State
Key Roseby, SFA
Jalayah Ingram, UTRGV
Charlotte O'Keefe, UTRGV
 
Second Team All-Conference
Tiani Ellison, East Texas A&M
Kamryn Wilson, Lamar
Jalencia Pierre, McNeese
Nya Valentine, Northwestern State
Harmanie Dominguez, SFA
 
All-Defensive Team
Dakota Howard, McNeese 
Jalencia Pierre, McNeese
Tanita Swift, Nicholls
Aziyah Farrier, SFA
Charlotte O'Keefe, UTRGV