The Lindenwood women's basketball team opens the 2026-27 season this week with a pair of games in Colorado against Colorado State and Denver.

LINDENWOOD NOTES

• The Phil Sayers era officially gets underway on Monday when the Lindenwood women's basketball team (0-0, 0-0 OVC) takes on Colorado State (0-0, 0-0 PAC-12) in Fort Collins, Colo.
• Monday will also serve as the Lindenwood debut for 12 new Lions, which include six Division I transfers, two JUCO one Division II and three high school products.
• Among the newcomers were both of the squads Players to Watch as announced by the Ohio Valley Conference in Violet McNece and Cadence Dykstra. McNece is no stranger to the Ohio Valley Conference having played for Morehead State last season. During her time with the Eagles, McNece appeared in 31 games with 26 starts last season, averaging 9.5 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from three-point range. She connected on 64 three-pointers, which ranked fifth in the OVC.
• Dykstra spent the last three seasons at the University of Toledo playing in 92 games, including 39 starts. During that time, she averaged 2.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in nearly 15 minutes of action.
• The Black and Gold were picked to finish fifth in the OVC Preseason Poll while receiving a total of 68 points
• The Lions will get familiar with playing on the road early on as eight of the first 10 games during the 2026-27 season will be played away from Hyland Arena. The only home games during that time are Evansville on November 7 and Stephens College on November 13.
• The Black and Gold conclude the Colorado swing with a matchup against Denver on Wednesday. Tip-off from Hamilton Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

• Colorado State finished with a 27-8 record, including a 15-15 mark inside Mountain West play last season
• The Rams went on to win the Mountain West conference tournament and earned a 12 seed, playing Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
• CSU held opponents to just 55.2 points per game, the best mark in the conference
• They also led the MW in field goal percentage defense, holding teams to 35.2 percent shooting from the field
• Five players scored at least 7.7 points per game in 2025–26
• Current Lindenwood assistant Sam Wall was a graduate assistant for the Rams the last two seasons

 ABOUT DENVER

• Denver begins its first season in the West Coast Conference (WCC) in 2026–27 after previously competing in the Summit League
• Erik Johnson returns for his second stint as head coach after previously leading the Pioneers from 2008–12
• Denver's roster features several forwards standing 6-foot-2 or taller, including Brooke Murrell, Anna Rosenberger, Lily Esparza and Mallory McQuietor
• Baker and Murrell provide returning Division I experience, while the roster also includes senior guards Lexi Pletschette, Karolina Padilla and Laia Monclova
• Denver's schedule includes games against Colorado State, LSU, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming before WCC play begins

UP NEXT
The Lions will return home for their home opener on Saturday, November 7 against Evansville at 1:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at lindenwoodlions.com/tickets