Building Blocks

By Jim Gazzolo

It isn’t quite the same as last year, when Ayla Guzzardo brought her entire staff and nine players with her to McNeese State, but Ashton Feldhaus will have a few folks joining her on the Cowgirl bench.

Feldhaus, the new women’s basketball head coach at McNeese, announced a couple of her assistants recently.

Feldhaus was named Guzzardo’s replacement in April after spending one season at Morehead State, where she turned the team around with an eight-win improvement. It was her first year as a head coach on the Division I level.

Unlike Guzzardo, who had to replace the entire roster but one spot, Feldhaus kept three players from last season’s record-setting 29-6 Cowgirl club. Avari Berry, Carley Hamilton and Jaslynn Walter, all freshmen, will return.

“It is great to have those players who want to stay,” said Feldhaus. “It gives us a good starting point. I met with them, and they questioned me more than I questioned them.”

Feldhaus also said she has two players following her from Morehead, Josefine Enander and Anja Ekstrom. The duo is both 5-foot-6 shooters, something that last year’s team was missing. 

As for her staff, Feldhaus announced she was bringing Dominique Miller and Madison Kellione with her from Morehead. They will be joined by Maaliya Owens, who comes over from Tennessee Tech.

Feldhaus hopes to round out her staff quickly. She is also expected to announce more players on her roster next week.

Miller follows Feldhaus to McNeese after spending one season with her at Morehead and the previous six working various positions at Valparaiso.  

“Dominique brings a relentless work ethic and unwavering loyalty to me and to our program every single day," Feldhaus said. “She leads by example and sets the tone for what it means to show up, stay committed, and do the work when no one is watching. Our players and staff know they can count on her in any situation, and her dedication to this program never wavers. She represents everything we want our culture to stand for.”

Miller played at Ohio University, where she was named to the Academic All-Mid American team three straight seasons. As a senior, she started all 36 games and averaged 10 points, finishing second in the league and 50th in the nation in 3-point shooting.

Kellione played one season at Marshall (2024-25) before joining Feldhaus’ staff at Morehead. Before Marshall, she spent one season at Tennessee Tech (2023-24) after beginning her playing career at Transylvania.

“Maddie has a special gift for connecting with our players and helping them grow both on and off the court,” said Feldhaus. “She pours so much time and energy into player development, making sure our athletes not only improve their skills but also gain confidence in who they are. The relationships she builds with our players are genuine, and they know she truly cares about their success in every area of life. She’s an invaluable part of what we’re building here.”

Kellione helped Transylvania win the 2022-23 NCAA Division III National Championship, where she was named Most Valuable Player. She was a WBCA First-Team All-American and a D3Hoops Second-Team All-American in 2022-23.

Owens begins her collegiate coaching career following a playing career at Tennessee Tech, where she scored over 1,500 points. She set the program’s record for 3-pointers made in back-to-back seasons. 

“Maaliya is an exciting addition to our staff, and we couldn’t be more fired up to have her join us,” said Feldhaus. “She comes from a decorated playing career and understands what it takes to compete and win at a high level. The energy and passion she brings to the gym every single day are contagious, and our players will benefit from her experience and competitive spirit. She’s going to make an immediate impact on our program and the culture we’re building.”

Owens competed for five seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference. During her time with the Golden Eagles, she helped lead the program to the 2023 OVC Tournament Championship and earned All-OVC Tournament Team honors twice. She was also a two-time first-team All-OVC selection and a two-time OVC All-Tournament Team honoree.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS Lake Charles.