The hope of a new dawn for the Cowgirls has replaced the darkness of last season.

After a long 6-25 winter that saw the McNeese State women’s basketball team miss the Southland Conference Tournament the school hosted, the program went in a completely different direction.

With new associate head coach Mike Pittman leading recruiting, the Cowgirls went out and hit the transfer portal hard. Seven experienced newcomers will join a group of returning players that includes five who were freshmen last season.

“I really like the mix of this team,” said McNeese head coach Lynn Kennedy. “We had to get more athletic and needed experience. We did that.”

Kennedy and his staff added a lot of local Louisiana flavor to the roster as well, led by Paris Guillory, who played her high school ball at St. Louis Catholic in Lake Charles, where she led the Saints to back-to-back state titles. She averaged averaged 18.6 ppg., 6.1 assists, and 5.0 steals per game in her senior campaign.

Guillory spent last year at Louisiana Tech, playing in 22 games and averaging 6.1 points. She was named to the all-Conference USA freshmen team.

“A lot of things are changing and heading in the right direction here,” said Guillory. “I wanted to be a part of what is taking place here.”

While a lot of talk is on the new players, McNeese will also return all five of last year’s freshmen, including starting guards Azjah Reeves and Boston Berry. They join senior Mireia Yespes, who has continued to improve.

“Mireia gives you everything she has got,” said Kennedy. “She has worked really hard her four years here and has made huge improvements.”

Over her last six games a year ago, Yespes averaged 16.5 points, ending the season at.11.6, up from just 2.3 her sophomore season.

The Cowgirls believe the mixture of the new and old will lead to a much-improved outcome.

“The expectations within our locker room go well beyond six wins,” said Tyrielle Williams, a transfer from South Alabama. “And we have a lot of expectations this year.”

Three other transfers are expected to add fuel to the Cowgirls. Kiayra Ellis (Arkansas State), Wilnie Joseph (Louisiana-Lafayette) and Kyla Davis (UNO) all have experience at the Division I level.

“We are going to surprise some people,” said Ellis, a forward. “I feel we can really do something here this year.”

Kennedy knows, however, that talk is cheap.

“We have to do it on the court,” he said “We want to prove on the court that we belong. If we don’t do it on the court it doesn’t matter.

“That’s where we want to make our statement.”

The Cowgirls open the season next Monday inside the Legacy Center at 11 a.m. against Ecclesia.

Cowgirls Roster

1 Azjah Reeves G 5-8 Sophomore

2 Julia Puente F 6-2 Junior 

4 Paris Guillory G 5-7 Sophomore (La Tech)

6 Avery Young G 5-7 Junior (Pearl River CC)

7 Tyrielle Williams G 5-7 Junior

12 Alva Mofalk F 6-4 Sophomore

13 Lyla Kahrimanovic G 5-11 Freshman

14 Mireia Yespes F 6-2 Senior

20 Sydney McQuietor C 6-2 Senior (Boise State)

21 Boston Berry G 5-7 Sophomore 

22 Kiayra Ellis F 6-0 Senior (Arkansas State)

35 Wilnie Joesph C/F 6-4 Senior (ULL)

41 Kyla Davis G 5-9 Senior (UNO)

44 Daniela Vallecilla C/F 6-4 Freshman