Having already moved her entire coaching staff from Hammond, new Cowgirl head coach Ayla Guzzardo is bringing her roster along for the ride.

Monday, Guzzardo announced she had signed nine of her former Southeastern players to join her at McNeese State at the end of the semester.

The move creates a seismic power shift in the Southland Conference’s women’s basketball. Guzzardo led the Lady Lions to the league title last season with a 26-6, 19-1 SLC record.

“One thing I learned is you need a great culture to win,” said Guzzardo. “The best way I could do that quickly was to bring the culture we had built at Southeastern with me.”

The fact that all the remaining players from the title team decided to follow is surprising and telling.

“They all chose to come with me,” said Guzzardo. “They didn’t have to. They could have stayed or gone anywhere, but they stayed with us. 

“It is an honor they would do that. It shows we are family.”

Guzzardo added to her family Sunday when guard Paris Guillory announced she was staying at McNeese. Guillory, the local star from St. Louis Catholic, led the Cowgirls in scoring last season and was seventh in league games with a 13.8 average despite battling knee issues.

Guzzardo had been trying to recruit Guillory both out of high school and before last season, when she entered the transfer portal from Louisiana Tech.

“I have been after her for three years,” Guzzardo said. “I could not get her to play for us, so I had to come to Paris’ home to get her.”

The rest of her Hammond family followed officially Monday, led by Jalencia Pierre, a 5-foot-5 point guard who averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals a game last year. She was named the Southland’s Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the league’s second team.

Another big signing is 6-foot forward Lexi Alexander, who averaged 6.8 points and six rebounds in her first season with Guzzardo. She was the 2023 SLC Freshman of the Year while at Nicholls. 

Alexander was a second-team All-SLC player in 2024 and a second-team All-Louisiana performer in 2023. 

Another former top rookie in the league is also coming, which is familiar to McNeese fans. Kaili Chamberlin, the 2022 SLC Freshman of the Year, averaged 3.5 points a game off the Lady Lions bench last season. 

Chamberlain, a 5-9 guard, averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in her two seasons at McNeese while starting 52 games.

Guzzardo said she expects to finish her roster on Wednesday by signing four more players. 

“I’m very excited being at McNeese and with the group we will have here,” said Guzzardo. “The goal is to win and win right away.”

Here is a look at the Cowgirls:

JALENCIA PIERRE- Two-time SLC Defensive Player of the Year (2024, 2025)…three-time SLC All-Defensive team (2023, 2024, 2025)..All-SLC (2nd team/2025)…ranked third in the SLC in steals this season with 66 (2.1…led Southeastern and ranked fifth in the SLC in assists with 121 (3.8 apg.).

KAILI CHAMBERLIN- Began her career at McNeese, where she was named the 2022 SLC and Louisiana Freshman of the Year…All-SLC (2nd team/2022)…All-Louisiana (3rd team/2022)…averaged 3.5 ppg. and 1.5 rpg. this season.

LEXI ALEXANDER- 2023 SLC Freshman of the Year…All-Louisiana (2nd team/2023)…All-SLC (2nd team/2024)…averaged 6.8 ppg. and led Southeastern in rebounds (6.0 rpg.) this season.

ARIANNA PATTON- Played in and started in all 32 games this season…averaged 20.3 minutes per game and 5.6 ppg…tied for a team high 40 three-pointers made…credited with 22 assists and 28 steals.

ALLASIA WASHINGTON- Played in 23 games this season…averaged 6.5 ppg. and 2.7 rpg…shot 36.1 percent from the field and 69.1 percent from the free throw line…scored a career high 19 points against NW State (1/18/25)…scored in double figures in seven games.

TYREONA SIBLEY- Played in 32 games…averaged 13.7 minutes per game…averaged 3.9 ppg. and 3.4 rpg…credited with 27 assists and 33 steals…shot 41.1 percent from the field…scored in double figures in five games.

JASLYN WALTER- Spent the 2024-25 season as a redshirt

AVARI BERRY- Played in 32 games this season…averaged 1.9 ppg. and 1.3 rpg…tied for third on the team with 42 assists and fourth on the team with 35 steals…shot 48.0 percent from the field.

MO’NIQUE JOSEPH- Played in 18 games…averaged 3.9 minutes per game…averaged 0.5 ppg. and 0.6 rpg…previously transferred from Indian River Community College.

PARIS GUILLORY- Played in 18 games and started in 15 due to an injury as a member of the 2024-25 McNeese team…led the Cowgirls in scoring (13.8 ppg.) and 3-point field goal percentage (36.4)…averaged 13.9 ppg. in SLC games…scored in double figures in 14 of 18 games played…averaged 4.3 rpg.

2025-26 McNeese Cowgirls Roster 

(Current classification)

Lexi Alexander, 6-0, Jr., Forward, Round Rock, Texas

Jalencia Pierre, 5-5, Jr., Guard, Springfield, La.

Arianna Patton, 5-5, Sr., Guard, Meridian, Miss.

Allasia Washington, 5-8, Jr., Guard, Baton Rouge, La.

Kaili Chamberlin, 5-9, Sr., Guard, Medford, Ore.

Tyreona Sibley, 5-8, Fr., Guard, Baton Rouge, La.

Jaslynn Walter, 5-10, Fr., Guard, Nashville, Tenn.

Avari Berry, 5-6, So., Guard, Pflugerville, Texas

Mo’Nique, 6-1, Jr., Forward, Lake Worth, Fla.

Paris Guillory, 5-7, So, Guard, Lake Charles, La.