FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University women's basketball team will open its 2026-27 season on Tuesday evening (Nov. 10) by hosting a non-conference game against Shaw University in the Smith University Center with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.

The team's schedule consists of 28 games, including 13 home contests and a 20-game conference slate. Single-game admission to Patriot home games is $10 for adults and $5 for students, while FMU students are admitted free with their ID. Additionally, kids under the age of five also receive free admission.

FMU fans can also purchase a season pass for $150, which provides access to all home men's and women's basketball contests. (CLICK HERE).

Following the home opener, the Patriots will travel to Wingate, N.C., for the Conference Challenge with games scheduled versus Coker University (Nov. 13) and host Wingate University (Nov. 14). FMU returns to the UC on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to face USC Aiken at 5:30 p.m. before beginning Conference Carolinas play at Shorter University on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Under the direction of 12th year head coach Jeri Porter, FMU returns two starters from last year's 19-11 squad that was the East Division champion of the Conference Carolinas, earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, and earned a consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Earlier this month, the Patriots were picked as the favorite to win the conference crown according to the 2026-27 Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Francis Marion welcomed back nine returnees, including starting 5-9 junior guard Uriah Jennings, who averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game, and starting 5-9 junior guard Terriana Gray, who averaged 10.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 2.9 apg after appearing in all 30 contests. Junior forward Trinity Delaney also returns to the Patriots after missing all of last season due to an injury in the season opener. In 2025-26, she averaged 8.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg while shooting 46.3 from the field.

"There is still something to be said about that continuity," Porter referenced when discussing her returning group of players. "Having Terriana (Gray) and Uriah (Jennings) back in the lineup after playing a lot of minutes last year makes us better. Also, Jordan Mintz, Mariana Moody, and Jasmine Grant saw significant playing time and are comfortable with our system and know what we need from them"

Other returnees include senior 6-1 forward Jasmine Grant, senior 5-4 guard MacKenzie Feagin, 5-4 junior guard Jordan Mintz, junior 5-4 guard Angel Walker, sophomore 5-9 guard Jaliyah Benefield, and 6-1 sophomore forward Mariana Moody.

Newcomers included three transfers and three freshmen – including 5-4 guard Trinity Fields, who appeared in 23 games with two starts at Division I UNC Asheville last season. Also new to the Patriot roster is 5-8 junior guard La'Sonja Hill, who transferred in from Division II Union University in the Gulf South Conference and averaged 6.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in 24 games as a reserve.

"Fields comes in as a new person to our system, but she is a senior on the basketball court with three years of experience in college basketball. I love the balance of having some kids that have been on the floor. Hill comes from a high-level Division II program that I believe is going to be great in the role she is going to have as a scorer and defender," said Porter.

Other newcomers include transfer 5-8 junior guard Mykey Avni (Thomas College), and a trio of freshmen, including 5-8 guard Jacie Kirwin (Concord, NC), 5-10 guard/forward Tamira Delaney (Columbia, SC), and 6-2 forward Sydni Anderson (Lexington, SC) 

"One of the things I'd like to see people talk about is our depth. I want people to feel like we aren't one player you must shut down to beat us. We have multiple pieces on this roster that, on any given night, can make a significant impact. We want to continue to be that team that people talk about our defense, speed, and tempo, but I also want people to talk about us collectively as a group", Porter expressed in reference to her 2026-27 squad.

The 2027 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship Tournament will get underway on February 28 and March 1 at on-campus sites. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are set for March 5, 6, and 7 at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on the campus of Wofford College.