DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team will open up the 2026-27 season on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at UD Arena. The Flyers will take on the RedBirds of Illinois State University for the first "937 Night" of the season. Click here for the full promotional schedule.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
The University of Dayton women's basketball team has high expectations heading into the 2026-27 season under the direction of fifth-year head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter. 

Coming off last season in which the Flyers finished 17-14 overall and 9-9 in league play, Dayton looks to advance to the semifinals of the A10 Championships for the first time since 2021-22. UD has won at least one postseason game in all four years of Coach Williams-Jeter's tenure, but they hope to earn a shot at postseason play in the NCAA tournament as well. 

The Flyers return a veteran group including three starters and six players that averaged over 18.0 minutes of action per game. Senior Ajok Madol started 30 games last season and averaged 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while junior Olivia Leung is the top returning scorer at 8.7 points per game and had a team-high 41 made threes. Post players Fatima Ibrahim and Molly O'Riordan both started 14 or more games last year and combined for 12.0 rebounds per game and 88 total blocks.

Dayton welcomed five new members to the program this season with two transfers and three freshmen. Seniors Cori Allen (Illinois/Memphis) and Sophie Swanson (Purdue/Virginia Tech) bring Power 4 experience to their position groups. The freshmen trio of London Johnson (6-0, F, Pickerington, Ohio), Brooke McLeod (6-2, F, Toronto, Ontario), and Milee Smith (5-10, G, Chillicothe, Ohio) bring new energy and depth to the Flyer squad. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Illinois State looks to build on a strong season last year where they had a 24-14 overall record and a 13-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

Head coach Kristen Gillespie is entering her 10th season at Illinois State and has over 250 career wins and over 150 wins with the Redbirds. 

As a team, Illinois State averaged 71.3 points per game last season while giving up 66.7 points to their opponents. The Redbirds shot 44.1 percent from the field, 31.2 percent from deep, and 73.3 percent from the stripe.

The Redbirds lost a key contributor from last season in Shannon Dowell. Dowell was named to the 2024 All-MVC Freshman team. Dowell led the team in scoring last season with 17.1 points per game, which places her second all time in Illinois State single season scoring list. However, they do return junior forward Navaeh Thomas who played a huge role for the Redbirds last year. Thomas led the team in rebounding averaging 7.0 rebounds per game and 12.1 points per game.

UP NEXT
Dayton will continue the 2026-27 season at home next Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. against Penn St. 

A10 PRESEASON POLL
The Dayton women's basketball program was selected to finish fifth in the 2026-27 Atlantic 10 Preseason poll released on Oct. 19 from the A10 Media Day in Washington, D.C. With 127 points, Dayton was chosen ahead of the likes of Saint Louis (123), VCU (106), Richmond (101), and Rhode Island (97). A10 preseason favorites Saint Joseph's received all 14 first-place votes from the league head coaches. 

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