PREVIEW: Cowboys, Cowgirls Set To Host New Orleans on Saturday

Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - At the halfway point of the conference season, McNeese sits where everyone thought they would be when the season started, near the top.

This weekend, both the men and women are set to host New Orleans with another Saturday double-header inside Townsley Law Arena.

McNeese/New Orleans Game Times Shifted

Due to the incoming freezing conditions set to impact most of the state, both games have been moved up. The women will play at 12:00, with the men set to begin 30 minutes after the conclusion, likely around 2:30.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW: McNeese vs New Orleans - January 24th

For the women, the Southeastern noise is officially behind them. Thursday, the Cowgirls travelled to Hammond, America, for their first trip as a team back to the University Center. You could say the McNeese women enjoyed their trip as the Cowgirls got a 72-30 win over the Lady Lions behind Dakota Howard's 19 points.

McNeese has now won eight in a row. The 9-1 SLC record is the best start in the first 10 conference games since the 2010-11 team posted a 9-1 record as well in their first 10 conference games.

Now the focus is on New Orleans.

The Cowgirls boast the top scoring defense in the Southland this season, giving up only 52.5 points per game. That mark ranks third in the nation, trailing only UConn and Quinnipiac.

Arianna Patton has made 42 three-pointers this season, the third-most in the conference. Jalencia Pierre leads the Southland and ranks 24th nationally with 62 assists and only 24 turnovers. Freshman Dakota Howard has been one of the best players in the Southland Conference this season.

New Orleans comes in 1-17 overall and 1-9 in Southland Conference play this season. The lone win of the season came against Southeastern in Hammond, 64-63.

New Orleans comes into Saturday's matchup off a 67-49 loss to Nicholls on Thursday in Thibodeaux. In the game, Brialle Washington scored 13 points to lead the Privateers. Kimbrough and Sharon Smith each had eight points. Shanihya Brown finished with five points, four rebounds, and six assists.

The Privateers play a lot of girls, with 10 players averaging at least 15 minutes per game. One area that the Privateers have improved this season is on the defensive end, averaging 2.7 blocks per game, including eight in their last outing.

Shanihya Brown leads New Orleans with 11.8 points per game and plays over 28 minutes a night.

McNeese and New Orleans will get the double-header started with the new tip-off time set for 12:00 inside Townsley Law Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Tom Hoefer, Mark Young, and Chaston Tavares.

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MEN'S PREVIEW: McNeese vs New Orleans - January 24th

After a split Texas road swing, the Men will now turn their focus to the much-improved Privateers of New Orleans.

After a tough loss on the road against UT Rio Grande Valley, Armstrong's Cowboys came away with a big win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 69-53. In that game, the Cowboys dominated the Islanders on the glass, 39-19.

Tyshawn Archie has been a major catalyst for the McNeese offense with two twenty-point games in the last four, and is averaging just over 17 points per game since the calendar turned to 2026. Larry Johnson continues to lead the Cowboys in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game.

New Orleans is much-improved in 2025-26. The Privateers come in 7-12 overall, 5-5 in SLC Play.

New Orleans is led by senior Coleton Benson, one of the top scorers in the Southland, averaging 15.5 points per game. Benson also leads the Privateers in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and scoring. MJ Thomas has been strong on the glass, leading the team with around eight rebounds per game.

McNeese and New Orleans will now tip off 30 minutes following the women's game, around 2:30 inside Townsley Law Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Tom Hoefer, Chaston Tavares, and Mark Young.