WBB: The Ayla Guzzardo Era Begins Monday In Education Game

Opponent: Pensacola Christian College
Date: Monday, Nov. 3
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Lake Charles (Townsley Law Arena)
Stream: ESPN+
Promotion: Education Game
Full Schedule
 
 LAKE CHARLES—The Ayla Guzzardo era will begin Monday morning when McNeese women’s basketball opens its season against Pensacola Christian College at 11 a.m. at the Townsley Law Arena in its annual Education Game.  The game will stream on ESPN+.
 
Over 2,200 fifth graders will fill the stands as they have done annually the past few years to help cheer on the Cowgirls.  General fans are asked to sit in sections 100 and 101.  Fans who have courtside seating and suite holders will have access to their seats.
 
Guzzardo, a two-time Southland Conference “Coach of the Year” will look to turn a Cowgirl program around and will attempt to do it with 13 newcomers, all of which who followed her from Southeastern where she spent the last eight years.
 
The Opponent
• Pensacola Christian College is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association
• Coming off a 25-2 record including a perfect 10-0 conference record
• Won third straight NCCAA South Region Championship last season and nine in last 12 years
• Advanced to the 2025 National Tournament where they lost in the semifinals.
 
McNeese Notes
• Head coach Ayla Guzzardo will make her McNeese debut in the season and home opener against Pensacola Christian College on Monday, Nov. 3 in its Education Game. 
• Guzzardo, the two-time Southland Conference “Coach of the Year” who spent the last eight seasons at Southeastern was hired as the Cowgirls head coach on March 24, 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 14 newcomers. Of the 13 newcomers, nine are D1 transfers which is tied for most in the NCAA this season.
• All 13 newcomers are either her former Southeastern players and recruits 
• Junior Paris Guillory is the only Cowgirl returning from the 2024-25 McNeese team.
• Guzzardo brought nine players from her 2024-25 Southeastern team and entire staff, including managers with her to McNeese.
• Guzzardo also brought her three early freshmen signees and one JUCO transfer with her to McNeese
• The 2025-26 roster consists of two 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).
• Chamberlin begin her playing career (2021-22) at McNeese and will complete her career at McNeese (2025-26).
• McNeese will play 13 home games including two non-conference home games this season.  The Cowgirls will open the season against Pensacola Christian on Nov. 3 and will host LSU-Alexandria on Nov. 22.
 
McNeese Receives Votes In Mid-Major Poll
For the second time in program history, McNeese received votes in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll on Oct. 27.
In 2011-12, McNeese ranked 18th in the preseason poll, the last time McNeese made it to the NCAA Tournament.  McNeese ranked four other times in that poll during the 2011-12 season, ranking as high as 11th on Dec. 13, 2011.
   
Two Regular Season Tournaments On The Schedule
• The Cowgirls will take part in two tournaments, the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship in the Nassau, Bahamas (Nov. 24-26). McNeese will play West Virginia in the opening round on Nov. 24 then either Ohio State or Belmont on Nov. 26.
• McNeese will also take part in the Briann January Classic-hosted by Arizona State (Dec. 5-6). The Cowgirls will take on Arizona State on Dec. 5 and Nevada on Dec. 6.
 
Same Building-New Name
• McNeese renamed its former home facility (Legacy Center) to the Townsley Law Arena on Oct. 7, 2025 following a 4.5 million dollar, 15 year naming rights deal.  The deal is believed to be the largest basketball naming rights deal in the Southland Conference.  The Townsley Law Firm has been a fixture in Southwest Louisiana since 1995 and is currently the largest medical malpractice law firm in Louisiana.
 
Upcoming Games
Nov. 6 at Alabama (6 p.m.)
Nov. 16 at Tarleton State (2 p.m.)
Nov. 22 LSU-Alexandria (1 p.m.)
Nov. 24-26 Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship
Dec. 2  at Utah Tech
Dec. 5-6 at Briann January Classic (Tempe, Ariz.)

Dec. 12 East Texas A&M (5 p.m.)