Mcneese Basketball: Cowgirls Open SLC Tournament Semifinal vs RGV With NCAA Stakes in Play
mcneese basketball launches its Southland Conference Tournament run Wednesday at 10: 30 a. m. ET inside Townsley Law Arena, with the Cowgirls hosting No. 3 seed Texas-Rio Grande Valley in the first semifinal. The matchup comes after McNeese earned the top seed and a double bye, while RGV advanced Tuesday with a 76-67 win over Northwestern State. For McNeese, the moment carries extra weight: it has been 13 years since the Cowgirls reached the NCAA Tournament, and they are now two wins away from returning to a regional.
Semifinal set: McNeese vs Texas-Rio Grande Valley at 10: 30 a. m. ET
McNeese enters the postseason with a 27-4 record and a 20-game winning streak as tournament play opens at home. The Cowgirls also posted a 21-1 mark in conference games. Texas-Rio Grande Valley arrives at 20-12 and comes in hot after Tuesday’s victory that punched its ticket to the semifinal.
RGV’s All-Southland guard Jalayah Ingram led the way in the win over Northwestern State with 22 points and eight rebounds. Ingram was limited to eight points in 24 minutes because of foul trouble in a recent meeting with McNeese, a 60-53 loss in Lake Charles three weeks ago, where she fouled out.
mcneese basketball leans on defense and pressure to create points
McNeese’s path has been defined by defense and turning mistakes into offense. In the last matchup with RGV, the Cowgirls forced 26 turnovers and turned those into 23 points. That pressure is central to McNeese’s identity heading into Wednesday morning’s semifinal, and it is also at the top of RGV’s list of concerns.
Defensive Player of the Year Jalencia Pierre will lead the McNeese attack and spearhead the Cowgirl press. Pierre has won that honor each of the last three seasons, anchoring the defensive approach McNeese will again rely on in the postseason setting.
McNeese head coach Ayla Guzzardo emphasized the challenge posed by RGV’s personnel and the need to stay sharp defensively. “They are a solid team, ” Guzzardo said. “We know what they are going to try to do. We have to defend. ”
Immediate reactions: Ingram, Patton, Guzzardo, and Lord size up the matchup
Ingram made clear the Vaqueros have been focused on this rematch since the foul-plagued outing in Lake Charles. “I have been waiting for this game since then, ” Ingram said. “Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a dogfight. ”
McNeese guard Adrianna Patton described a team eager to finally step into tournament action after the double-bye wait. “We are looking forward to getting going in the tournament, ” Patton said. “We have been waiting for the tournament all season. ”
RGV head coach Lane Lord pointed directly at the risk of feeding McNeese’s transition game. “You can’t throw them the ball, ” Lord said. “If you do throw them the ball, you can’t let them have layups. ”
Guzzardo also addressed any concern about time off leading to sluggishness, saying the Cowgirls leaned on hard practices to stay game-ready. “We practiced really hard to get them ready, ” Guzzardo said. “That’s why we practice them so hard, so that the games are easier. ”
Quick context and what’s next after Wednesday morning
McNeese is chasing its third Southland Conference title and its first since 2013 after running through the league during the regular season. RGV counters with a top duo in Ingram and all-league forward Charlotte O’Keefe, who posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in the semifinal round.
Now the next step is immediate and unforgiving: Wednesday’s 10: 30 a. m. ET semifinal in Lake Charles. If mcneese basketball holds serve at home against Texas-Rio Grande Valley, the Cowgirls move one win from the SLC title—and one step closer to ending the long wait for a return to the NCAA Tournament stage.
