2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball team

2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball
2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	19–12 (14–4 Southland)
Head coach	Ayla Guzzardo (7th season);
Assistant coaches	Kenneth Lee, Jr.; Ronneka Robertson; Aja Ochie;
Home arena	Pride Roofing University Center
	Seasons ← 2022–23 2024–25 →

2023–24 Southland Conference women's basketball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Lamar	17	–	1	.944	24	–	7	.774
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi †	14	–	4	.778	23	–	9	.719
Southeastern Louisiana	14	–	4	.778	19	–	12	.613
Incarnate Word	12	–	6	.667	19	–	11	.633
Texas A&M–Commerce*	8	–	10	.444	15	–	16	.484
New Orleans	8	–	10	.444	11	–	19	.367
Nicholls	7	–	11	.389	14	–	18	.438
Northwestern State	7	–	11	.389	11	–	19	.367
McNeese	2	–	16	.111	6	–	25	.194
Houston Christian	1	–	17	.056	6	–	23	.207
* ineligible for the 2024 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II.

† 2024 Southland tournament winner

The 2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball team represented Southeastern Louisiana University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Lady Lions were led by seventh-year head coach Ayla Guzzardo, and played their home games at Pride Roofing University Center as members of the Southland Conference. They compiled a 19–12 overall season record and a 14–4 record in conference play. Their season ended with a 59–60 loss to Texas A&M–Corpus Christi in the SLC tournament Semifinals round.

Previous season[edit]

The Lady Lions finished the 2022–23 season 21–10 overall, 14–4 in Southland play to finish in first place. With a first round bye, they defeated Texas A&M-Commerce in the semi–finals of the Southland women's tournament. They defeated Lamar in the tournament championship game winning the conference auto–bid to the 2023 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. Their season ended when they were defeated by No. 3 Iowa in the first round.^[1]

Media[edit]

Home games are broadcast on ESPN+.

Preseason polls[edit]

Southland Conference Poll[edit]

The Southland Conference released its preseason poll on October 10, 2023. Receiving 159 overall votes and 15 first place votes, the Lady Lions were picked to finish first in the conference.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Southeastern Louisiana	159 (15)
2	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	140 (3)
3	Lamar	132 (2)
4	Incarnate Word	97
T5	Houston Christian	74
T5	McNeese	74
7	Northwestern State	65
8	Texas A&M–Commerce	58
9	New Orleans	56
10	Nicholls	39

Preseason All Conference[edit]

Senior guards Alexius Horne and Hailey Giaratano were selected to the Preseason All Conference first team.^[2]

Roster[edit]

2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lions women's basketball team

Players

Coaches

Pos.	#	Name	Height	Year	Previous school	Hometown
F	0	Kennedy Paul	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	GS	University Lab Prairie View A&M	Brusly, LA
G	1	Ja4lencia Pierre	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	So	Amite HS	Springfield, LA
G	2	Arianna Patton	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	Jr	Meridian HS Jones College	Meridian, MS
G	3	Allasia Washington	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	So	Madison Prep Academy	Baton Rouge, LA
G	4	Demi Gentry	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	Fr	White Station HS	Memphis, TN
G	5	Taylor Bell	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	Jr	Huntington HS	Shreveport, LA
G	10	Breyionce George	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	So	Lafayette HS Delgado CC	Lafayette, LA
G	11	Avari Berry	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	Fr	Pflugerville HS	Austin, TX
F	12	Terri Crawford	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Jr	Ramsay HS Central Arkansas	Birmingham, AL
G	15	Daija Harvey	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Sr	Donaldsonville HS	Donaldsonville, LA
G	23	Mackenzie Thomas	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	RS Jr	Laurel HS Jones College	Laurel, MS
G	24	Dijone' Flowers	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Jr	Live Oak HS Lamar	Denham Springs, LA
F	30	Cheyanne Daniels	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	Jr	Miami Senior HS Shawnee CC	Miami, FL
G	31	Alexius Horne	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Sr	Denham Springs HS	Baton Rouge, LA
G	55	Hailey Giaratano	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Sr	Ponchatoula HS	Ponchatoula, LA

Head coach

Ayla Guzzardo (Akron)

Assistant coach(es)

Kenneth Lee, Jr. (Nicholls State)
Aja Ochie (Southeastern Louisiana)
Ronneka Robertson (South Alabama)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: October 26, 2023

Schedule and results[edit]

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Non-conference regular season
Nov 6, 2023* 11:00 am, ESPN+4		Millsaps	W 61–30	1–0	22 – C. Daniels	10 – C. Daniels	5 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (2,107) Hammond, Louisiana
Nov 10, 2023* 6:30 pm, SECN+		at No. 25 Mississippi State	L 46–67	1–1	11 – K. Paul	8 – H. Giaratono	3 – C. Daniels	Humphrey Coliseum (4,531) Starkville, Mississippi
Nov 14, 2023* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		SUNO	W 90–30	2–1	17 – A. Berry	5 – A. Berry	6 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (921) Hammond, Louisiana
Nov 17, 2023 7:00 pm, ESPN+		No. 7 LSU	L 50–73	2–2	12 – K. Paul	6 – K. Paul	4 – A. Berry	Pride Roofing University Center (7,500) Hammond, Louisiana
Nov 20, 2023* 7:00 pm, ESPN+		Jackson State	L 54–63	2–3	13 – H. Giaratano	5 – C. Daniels	3 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (712) Hammond, Louisiana
Nov 25, 2023* 1:00 pm, ESPN+		Mobile	W 75–47	3–3	20 – C. Daniels	9 – T. Bell	7 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (721) Hammond, Louisiana
Nov 28, 2023* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		at Wichita State	W 64–36	4–3	15 – H. Giaratano	8 – T. Bell	4 – A. Berry	Charles Koch Arena (1,200) Wichita, Kansas
Nov 30, 2023* 6:30 pm, BIG12/ESPN+		at Kansas	L 56–67	4–4	16 – Giaratano	6 – Bell	2 – Giaratano	Allen Fieldhouse (2,483) Lawrence, Kansas
Dec 15, 2023* 6:00 pm, ESPN+		South Alabama	L 60–67	4–5	19 – Giaratano	6 – Thomas	3 – Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (629) Hammond, Louisiana
Dec 19, 2023* 11:30 pm		vs. Oregon State 2023–24 Maui Tournament	L 69–92	4–6	24 – H. Giaratano	7 – T. Bell	2 – T. Bell	Seabury Hall (882) Makawao, Hawaii
Dec 20, 2023* 10:00 pm		vs. Tulsa 2023–24 Maui Tournament	L 47–48	4–7	15 – T. Bell	13 – C. Daniels	3 – J. Pierre	Seabury Hall Makawao, Hawaii
Southland Conference regular season
Jan 4, 2024 6:30 pm, ESPN+		at Nicholls	W 66–56	5–7 (1–0)	20 – C. Daniels	8 – C. Daniels	8 – J. Pierre	Stopher Gymnasium (433) Thibodaux, Louisiana
Jan 6, 2024 2:00 pm, ESPN+		at New Orleans	W 57–44	6–7 (2–0)	12 – A. Patton	9 – K. Paul	4 – H. Giaratano	Lakefront Arena (603) New Orleans, Louisiana
Jan 11, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN+		Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	W 61–58	7–7 (3–0)	13 – J. Pierre	9 – H. Giaratano	3 – J. Pierre	Pride Roofing University Center (692) Hammond, Louisiana
Jan 13, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		at McNeese	W 77–63 ^OT	8–7 (4–0)	21 – J. Pierre	8 – C. Daniels	5 – J. Pierre	The Legacy Center (2,208) Lake Charles, Louisiana
Jan 18, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN+		Northwestern State	W 55–48	9–7 (5–0)	23 – H. Giaratano	6 – H. Giaratano	2 – J. Pierre	Pride Roofing University Center (1,012) Hammond, Louisiana
Jan 20, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		Texas A&M–Commerce	W 65–49	10–7 (6–0)	15 – J. Pierre	8 – K. Paul	4 – T. Bell	Pride Roofing University Center (721) Hammond, Louisiana
Jan 25, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN+		at Houston Christian	W 53–51	11–7 (7–0)	14 – Tied (2)	10 – M. Thomas	4 – H. Giaratano	Sharp Gymnasium (200) Houston, Texas
Jan 27, 2024 3:00 pm, ESPN+		at Lamar	L 45–59	11–8 (7–1)	8 – H. Giaratano	5 – H. Giaratano	5 – H. Giaratano	Neches Arena (985) Beaumont, Texas
Feb 1, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN+		Incarnate Word	W 93–86 ^OT	12–8 (8–1)	27 – H. Giaratano	9 – C. Daniels	4 – A. Patton	Pride Roofing University Center (1,248) Hammond, Louisiana
Feb 3, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		McNeese	W 80–69	13–8 (9–1)	20 – T. Bell	8 – T. Bell	6 – J. Pierce	Pride Roofing University Center (705) Hammond, Louisiana
Feb 8, 2024 6:30 pm, ESPN+		at Texas A&M–Commerce	W 72–61	14–8 (10–1)	12 – J. Pierre	10 – C. Daniels	3 – T. Bell	The Field House (313) Commerce, Texas
Feb 10, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		at Northwestern State	W 59–51	15–8 (11–1)	14 – T. Bell	12 – C. Daniels	4 – J. Pierre	Prather Coliseum (803) Natchitoches, Louisiana
Feb 15, 2024 6:00 pm, ESPN+		Lamar	L 60–67	15–9 (11–2)	17 – H. Giaratano	6 – J. Pierce	3 – J. Pierce	Pride Roofing University Center (953) Hammond, Louisiana
Feb 17, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		Houston Christian	W 60–40	16–9 (12–2)	22 – K. Paul	6 – M. Thomas	4; – J. Pierre	Pride Roofing University Center (644) Hammond, Louisiana
Feb 24, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		New Orleans	W 69–66 ^OT	17–9 (13–2)	17 – A. Washington	7 – C. Daniels	5 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (783) Hammond, Louisiana
Feb 29, 2024 6:30 pm, ESPN+		at Incarnate Word	L 51–53	17–10 (13–3)	– T. Bell	– T. Bell	4 – H. Giaratano	McDermott Center (169) San Antonio, Texas
Mar 2, 2024 1:00 pm, ESPN+		at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	L 73–79 ^OT	17–11 (13–4)	15 – H. Giaratano	7 – T. Bell	4 – D. Flowers	American Bank Center (1,352) Corpus Christi, Texas
Mar 7, 2024 4:30 pm, ESPN+		Nicholls	W 68–62	18–11 (14–4)	25 – H. Giaratano	7 – H. Giaratano	4 – H. Giaratano	Pride Roofing University Center (779) Hammond, Louisiana
2024 Jersey Mike's Subs Southland Conference Tournament
Mar 12, 2024 1:30 pm, ESPN+	(3)	vs. (7) Nicholls Second round	W 75–57	19–11	18 – K. Paul	10 – K. Paul	5 – H. Giaratano	The Legacy Center Lake Charles, LA
Mar 13, 2024 1:30 pm, ESPN+	(3)	vs. (2) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Semifinals	L 59–60	19–12	11 – H. Giaratano	8 – Tied (H. Giaratano & T. Bell)	7 – J. Pierre	The Legacy Center Lake Charles, LA
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

Source:^[3]^[4]

Conference awards and honors[edit]

Weekly awards[edit]

Weekly honors
Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week	Jalencia Pierre	G	January 15, 2024	^[5]
SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week	Hailey Giaratano	G	February 5, 2024	^[6]

References[edit]

^ "SE Louisiana Lady Lions 43 95 Iowa Hawkeyes". ESPN Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Southeastern Chosen as Preseason Women's Basketball Favorite; Preseason All-Conference Announced". Southland Conference. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ "2023-24 Women's Basketball Schedule". Southeastern Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
^ "SE Louisiana Lady Lions Schedule 2023-24". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
^ Callum Squires (January 15, 2024). "SLU's Pierre wins SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved January 16, 2024.
^ Callum Squires (February 5, 2024). "Southeastern's Giaratano claims SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[1] "SE Louisiana Lady Lions 43 95 Iowa Hawkeyes". ESPN Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2024.

[PrePolls-2] "Southeastern Chosen as Preseason Women's Basketball Favorite; Preseason All-Conference Announced". Southland Conference. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.

[3] "2023-24 Women's Basketball Schedule". Southeastern Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

[4] "SE Louisiana Lady Lions Schedule 2023-24". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2023.

[5] Callum Squires (January 15, 2024). "SLU's Pierre wins SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved January 16, 2024.

[6] Callum Squires (February 5, 2024). "Southeastern's Giaratano claims SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved February 6, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball
Venues	University Center (1982–present)
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24