Women's Basketball Opens 2026-27 Season with First Offical Practice
9/21/2026 1:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri women's basketball team officially opened practice for the 2026-27 season Monday morning at the Show Me Center.
Head coach Briley Palmer is back for her third season and returns two assistant coaches in Jace Lance and Kate Rolfes. The staff also added Lexxus Graham and Regina Garrett as assistant coaches as well.
Last season the Redhawks went 14-18 overall and 8-12 in OVC play. The squad ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak which carried into the OVC tournament where SEMO was the first eight seed in OVC tournament history to make the semifinals after defeating No. 5 Little Rock 68-65 and No. 4 seeded Morehead State 60-55.Â
The 2026-27 team features 13 players with senior guard Madison Ayers one returning from last season. Ayers started nine games in the 2025-26 season and averaged 3.6 points per game and also added 17 steals and 21 assists over the whole season. She had a season high 16 against Lindenwood on January 15th
The Redhawks bring in eight transfers and four freshman to make up the rest of the squad. The transfers include Carrington Jones (Northwest Florida), Journee Harris (Hill College), Dacarra Ward (Belmont), Zoe Newland (State Fair CC), Jolie Bonderer (Central Missouri), Courtenay Lee (Georgia Southern), Yar Manyiel (LaSalle) and Karris Allen (Southern Illinois).Â
The freshmen include Deborah Ayeni, Addi Owen, Hailey Buckman and Faye Williams.
SEMO opens the season November 2nd at Missouri State. The home opener is November 5th. Both times are to be announced later.
