WBB: First Place Cowgirls Journey To NW State Thursday

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 ladies’s basketball will look to tie the applications Southland Conference season wins document of 15 Thursday night time when the Cowgirls journey to Natchitoches to face Northwestern State (11-11, 8-6 SLC).  The 2010-11 staff received 15 convention video games and ended the season with a 15-1 SLC document.  Tipoff is about for six:30 pm. at Prather Coliseum and the sport will stream on ESPN+.
The Cowgirls (20-4, 14-1 SLC) will carry a 13-game profitable streak, tied for the nation’s ninth longest profitable streak this season into Natchitoches. 
McNeese may even be trying to avenge a 65-58 house loss to NW State on Dec. 15, 2025 within the Cowgirls’ second convention recreation of the season.  The loss is the one SLC loss and residential loss the Cowgirls have suffered this season.
McNeese has misplaced the final six assembly in opposition to NW State and have not received in Prather Coliseum since its 65-41 win in 2021. 
 
McNeese Notes
• Are in first place within the SLC with a 20-4 total document and 14-1 convention document.
• A win Thursday night time would tie essentially the most convention wins in a season.  The 2011 staff went 15-1 within the SLC this season.
• The solely SLC loss this season was a 65-58 house loss in opposition to Northwestern State on Dec. 15, the second SLC recreation of the season.
• The final McNeese win in Natchitoches was a 65-41 win on Feb. 13, 2021.
• On an total 13 recreation profitable streak and a 13 SLC recreation profitable streak
• Have received 16 of final 18 video games
• The 20-wins is the primary 20-win season since 2016
• Coming off a 75-54 house over Incarnate Word final Saturday.
• Head coach Ayla Guzzardo picked her a hundredth profession Southland Conference win on Feb. 5 2026 with an 83-35 house win over Houston Christian.
• Lead the nation in turnover margin and rank second in scoring protection.
• Rank 14th on this week’s March Madness Mid-Major Poll
• Enter the sport main the SLC in eight statistical classes (Assists/Turnover Ratio, scoring protection (2nd within the nation), scoring margin, steals per recreation, turnover margin (lead the nation), turnovers compelled per recreation, turnovers per recreation, and profitable p.c.
• Enter the sport ranked within the Top 25 in eight NCAA statistical classes – 1st in turnover margin (13.58), 2nd in scoring protection (51.0), 4th in turnovers per recreation (10.9), sixth in steals per recreation (15.1), and eighth in turnovers compelled per recreation (24.50), twenty first in scoring margin (18.0) and wining p.c (83.3), twenty third in assists/turnover ratio (1.26)
• The Cowgirls’ NET rating of 78 (Dec. 14, 2025), was the best in program historical past.
• Freshman Dakota Howard continues to steer the staff in scoring with 13.0 ppg. and steals with 60. She is tied for an SLC excessive  2.7 spg.  She is tied for a staff excessive 5.9 rpg. and has scored in double figures in 13 out of final 16 video games. She is averaging 15.2ppg. in convention video games.
• Lexi Alexander can also be tied for a staff excessive 5.9 rpg. She has three double doubles this season.
• Jalencia Pierre has a staff excessive 84 assists (3.7 apg.) and is second on the staff with 49 steals.  She leads the SLC and ranks eighth within the nation in help/turnover ratio (2.63).   Pierre wants 50 factors to succeed in 1,000 profession factors.
• McNeese has 13 newcomers, which ranks tied for fourth most within the NCAA. Three different groups (Northern Arizona, Indiana State, UL-Monroe) all have 13 newcomers. Of the 13 newcomers, 9 are D1 transfers which is tied for many within the NCAA this season.
• All 13 newcomers are Guzzardo’s former Southeastern gamers and recruits 
• Guzzardo introduced 9 gamers from her 2024-25 Southeastern staff and whole employees, together with managers together with her to McNeese.
• The 2025-26 roster consists of two-time Southland “Defensive Player of the Year” in Jalencia Pierre.
• Also on the staff are two Southland “Freshmen of the Year”- Kaili Chamberlin (2022) and Lexi Alexander (2023).
 
Northwestern State Notes
• Enter the sport 11-11 total and 8-6 within the SLC
• Are 5-2 at house
• Are on a two-game dropping streak

• Coming off street losses at Lamar at East Texas A&M final week
• Second within the SLC with a 33.4 three-point area objective p.c and three-pointers per recreation (7.2)
• Third within the SLC in rebounds (38.1)
• Atamah Vernell leads the SLC in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and is fourth in 3-pt. area objective p.c (38.8)
• Carla Celaya is second within the SLC with 5.6 rpg.
• Hold a sequence document of 66-35 over the Cowgirls
• The have received the final six conferences in opposition to McNeese together with a 65-58 win in Lake Charles on Feb. 15, 2025.
• Are the one staff at hand the Cowgirls a SLC and residential 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