HAMMOND, La.  – The Southeastern Louisiana women's basketball team claimed second place in the Southland Conference preseason poll for the 2024-25 season. Lexi Alexander, Jalencia Pierre and Taylor Bell were named Preseason All-Conference, as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon.
 
Alexander, a forward from Round Rock, Texas, received a selection on the 2024-25 SLC women's basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team; while Pierre and Bell were recognized on the All-Conference Second Team.
 
Southeastern was voted second in the poll with five first place votes and 213 points. The Lamar Cardinals were selected on top with 19 first place votes and 236 votes to gain the edge over the Lady Lions. In its previous season, SLU secured another winning season with 19 overall wins and finishing third in conference play, but Southeastern head coach Ayla Guzzardo is hungry for more.
 
Guzzardo commented, "This league is very strong and we are thankful to be picked second, but we still have a huge target on our back. We have to come ready each night we step on the court."
 
Alexander moved up to Preseason First Team All-Conference after being named to the 2023-24 Second Team All-Conference last season. She averaged 13.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2.1 apg last season at Nicholls. The junior transfer gained a career high 28 points and 15 rebounds versus Texas A&M-Commerce. As a sophomore, Alexander finished last season ranked top ten in the conference in points per game and rebounds.
 
"Lexi Alexander is a phenomenal human. She has been fun to coach and to see her growth since being here at Southeastern," stated Guzzardo. "We brought her here to score and rebound the ball, but she has also shown that she can defend at a high level. She is a great passer on the perimeter, and on the block, and she has been a great addition to the team."
 
Bell, a senior guard from Shreveport, La, claimed Preseason Second Team All-Conference after leading the team in steals and rebounds in the 2023-24 season. She averaged 9.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 1.8 spg. Bell scored a season high 20 points and 8 rebounds versus McNeese. Bell finished 13 games last season in double figures, ranked second on the team in blocks (19), and ranked sixth in the conference in steals.
 
Pierre, a junior guard from Springfield, La., earned Preseason Second Team All-Conference after she was named SLC Defensive Player of the Year and LSWA All-Louisiana third team last season. She averaged 8.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.9 apg. Pierre tied a career high 21 points with a game winner over McNeese on the road last season and dished out a season high eight assists against Nicholls. She ranked third on the team in scoring, second in steals and minutes played. Pierre finished 11 games in double digit scoring and ranked sixth in the conference in assists.
 
"Taylor and Jen have made huge strides these past two years and both are deserving of this acknowledgment," said Guzzardo. "Taylor is a mix-match problem on the perimeter and in the paint and Jen's speed is unmatched. Her motor throughout the game is hard for opponents to stay with and I'm excited to see what this year brings for these two."
 
SLU is returning 10 players from last year's roster that went 19-12 overall and 14-4 in league play. Southeastern has five new additions to continue the advancement of the program.
 
The Lady Lions will host its season opener Monday, Nov. 4 against Millsaps at 5:30 p.m. in the University Center. 
 
 
2024-25 SLC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Lamar                                                  236
2. Southeastern                                     213
3. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi                  200
4. SFA                                                     193
5. UIW                                                    149
6. Texas A&M-Commerce                      112
7. Nicholls                                               108
8. New Orleans                                       102
9. UTRGV                                                92
10. Northwestern State                            67
11. McNeese                                            61
12. HCU                                                   51
 
First Team
Akasha Davis, Lamar
Sabria Dean, Lamar
Lexi Alexander, Southeastern
Mirei Aguado, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Paige Allen, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
Second Team
Britiya Curtis, Nicholls
Ashlyn Traylor, SFA
Taylor Bell, Southeastern
Jalencia Pierre, Southeastern
Jordyn Newsome, Texas A&M-Commerce
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Women's Basketball, follow @LionUpWBB on X, like /SoutheasternWBB on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.