2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball team

2023–24 Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions basketball
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record19–12 (14–4 Southland)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Kenneth Lee Jr.
  • Ronneka Robertson
  • Aja Ochie
Home arenaPride Roofing University Center
Seasons
2023–24 Southland Conference women's basketball standings
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 in Hammond, Louisiana 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.[1]

Previous season

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 semifinals 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.[2]

Media

Home games were broadcast on ESPN+.

Preseason polls

Southland Conference poll

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.[3]

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

Senior guards Alexius Horne and Hailey Giaratano were selected to the Preseason All-Conference first team.[3]

Roster

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 Jalencia 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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 16, 2024

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		Millsaps W 61–30  1–0
  22 – C. Daniels   10 – C. Daniels   5 – H. Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (2,107)
Hammond, LA
November 10, 2023*
6:30 p.m., 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, MS
November 14, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		SUNO W 90–30  2–1
  17 – A. Berry   5 – A. Berry   6 – H. Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (921)
Hammond, LA
November 17, 2023
7:00 p.m., 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, LA
November 20, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Jackson State L 54–63  2–3
  13 – H. Giaratano   5 – C. Daniels   3 – H. Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (712)
Hammond, LA
November 25, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Mobile W 75–47  3–3
  20 – C. Daniels   9 – T. Bell   7 – H. Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (721)
Hammond, LA
November 28, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Wichita State W 64–36  4–3
  15 – H. Giaratano   8 – T. Bell   4 – A. Berry  Charles Koch Arena (1,200)
Wichita, KS
November 30, 2023*
6:30 p.m., BIG12/ESPN+ 		at Kansas L 56–67  4–4
  16 – Giaratano   6 – Bell   2 – Giaratano  Allen Fieldhouse (2,483)
Lawrence, KS
December 15, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		South Alabama L 60–67  4–5
  19 – Giaratano   6 – Thomas   3 – Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (629)
Hammond, LA
December 19, 2023*
11:30 p.m. 		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, HI
December 20, 2023*
10:00 p.m. 		vs. Tulsa
2023–24 Maui Tournament 		L 47–48  4–7
  15 – T. Bell   13 – C. Daniels   3 – J. Pierre  Seabury Hall 
Makawao, HI
Southland Conference regular season
January 4, 2024
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Nicholls W 66–56  5–7
(1–0) 		 20 – C. Daniels   8 – C. Daniels   8 – J. Pierre  Stopher Gymnasium (433)
Thibodaux, LA
January 6, 2024
2:00 p.m., 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, LA
January 11, 2024
6:00 p.m., 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, LA
January 13, 2024
1:00 p.m., 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, LA
January 18, 2024
6:00 p.m., 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, LA
January 20, 2024
1:00 p.m., 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, LA
January 25, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Houston Christian W 53–51  11–7
(7–0) 		 14 – tied (2)   10 – M. Thomas   4 – H. Giaratano  Sharp Gymnasium (200)
Houston, TX
January 27, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Lamar L 45–59  11–8
(7–1) 		 8 – H. Giaratano   5 – H. Giaratano   5 – H. Giaratano  Neches Arena (985)
Beaumont, TX
February 1, 2024
6:00 p.m., 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, LA
February 3, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		McNeese W 80–69  13–8
(9–1) 		 20 – T. Bell   8 – T. Bell   6 – J. Pierce  Pride Roofing University Center (705)
Hammond, LA
February 8, 2024
6:30 p.m., 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, TX
February 10, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northwestern State W 59–51  15–8
(11–1) 		 14 – T. Bell   12 – C. Daniels   4 – J. Pierre  Prather Coliseum (803)
Natchitoches, LA
February 15, 2024
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Lamar L 60–67  15–9
(11–2) 		 17 – H. Giaratano   6 – J. Pierce   3 – J. Pierce  Pride Roofing University Center (953)
Hammond, LA
February 17, 2024
1:00 p.m., 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, LA
February 24, 2024
1:00 p.m., 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, LA
February 29, 2024
6:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Incarnate Word L 51–53  17–10
(13–3) 		   – T. Bell     – T. Bell   4 – H. Giaratano  McDermott Center (169)
San Antonio, TX
March 2, 2024
1:00 p.m., 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, TX
March 7, 2024
4:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		Nicholls W 68–62  18–11
(14–4) 		 25 – H. Giaratano   7 – H. Giaratano   4 – H. Giaratano  Pride Roofing University Center (779)
Hammond, LA
2024 Jersey Mike's Subs Southland Conference tournament
March 12, 2024
1:30 p.m., 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
March 13, 2024
1:30 p.m., 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.

Source:[4][5]

Conference awards and honors

Weekly awards

Weekly honors
Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref.
SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week Jalencia Pierre G January 15, 2024 [6]
SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week Hailey Giaratano G February 5, 2024 [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lady Lions End Season in Round Three of SLC Tournament". Southeastern Louisiana University Athletics. March 13, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "SE Louisiana Lady Lions 43 95 Iowa Hawkeyes". ESPN Enterprises, LLC. March 18, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hill, James (October 10, 2023). "Southeastern Chosen as Preseason Women's Basketball Favorite; Preseason All-Conference Announced". Southland Conference. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023-24 Women's Basketball Schedule". Southeastern Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "SE Louisiana Lady Lions Schedule 2023-24". ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Squires, Callum (January 15, 2024). "SLU's Pierre wins SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Squires, Callum (February 5, 2024). "Southeastern's Giaratano claims SLC Women's Basketball Player of the Week award". Retrieved February 6, 2024.