McNeese women’s basketball lost 71-59 to Stephen F. Austin on March 12 in the finals of the 2026 Air Force Reserve Southland Conference Basketball Championship, ending the Cowgirls’ 21-game winning streak.
The result means Stephen F. Austin secures its second consecutive tournament title and will represent the Southland Conference in the NCAA Tournament. McNeese will participate in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), with the field set to be announced late Sunday evening after the NCAA Tournament selections.
Dakota Howard led all players with a game-high 23 points and recorded her fourth career double-double by collecting 10 rebounds. Jalencia Pierre and Arianna Patton each scored 11 points for McNeese. Both Howard and Tyreona Sibley were named to the all-tournament team.
Stephen F. Austin was led by Myka Perry, who scored 21 points and was named tournament MVP. Harmanie Dominquez added 18 points and also earned a spot on the all-tournament team.
The game remained close throughout, with both teams exchanging runs. McNeese held a narrow lead at the end of the first quarter, but Stephen F. Austin regained control before halftime, leading by one point at intermission. The Ladyjacks extended their advantage in the third quarter, but McNeese closed within two points heading into the final period. A strong start to the fourth quarter allowed Stephen F. Austin to build a double-digit lead that they maintained until the end of the game.
Despite forcing Stephen F. Austin into 24 turnovers and scoring 28 points off those mistakes, McNeese was outrebounded by a margin of nearly two-to-one as Stephen F. Austin collected 41 rebounds—including 29 defensive boards—compared to McNeese’s 22 rebounds overall.
