SEU Lifts Lid on 2025-26 season

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The SEU Women's Basketball team officially opens the 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, November 1, hosting Faulkner at noon inside The Furnace. The Fire will then head to Mount Vernon, Georgia, on Tuesday, November 4, to take on Brewton-Parker in their first road test of the year.

Fans can catch all the action live on the Urban Edge Network App—available on Smart TVs and mobile devices—or stream online at urbanedgenetwork.net/upcoming. Live stats are available at fire.seu.edu/sidearmstats/wbball, and tickets for Saturday's home opener can be purchased at fire.seu.edu/tickets.

Southeastern enters the new season following a 24-7 finish in 2024-25, highlighted by a 13-3 mark in Sun Conference play and another NAIA National Tournament berth. The Fire averaged 72.5 points per game while shooting 42.8% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range, ranking among the top 25 nationally from beyond the arc. SEU went 12-2 inside The Furnace and 10-2 on the road, showing consistency home and away throughout the season.

The Fire by the Numbers
SEU finished 61st nationally in scoring, 42nd in field goal percentage, and 23rd in three-point percentage, while also ranking 6th in the NAIA in steals per game (13.8) and 45th in offensive efficiency (0.985). Southeastern's fast-paced, pressure-driven style helped fuel its high-tempo offense despite being out-rebounded by an average of 6.6 per game.

Five returners from last year's roster form the backbone of the 2025-26 squad, accounting for 43.6% of SEU's points, 41.5% of rebounds, 40.8% of assists, 58.7% of steals, 23.8% of blocks, and 44.3% of total minutes played. Under second-year head coach Joshua Epperson, their experience will be crucial as SEU looks to build on last year's success and chase another postseason berth.

Herman's Hot Hand Returns to Lead the Backcourt
Junior guard Mya Herman headlines the Fire's returning group after starting 30 of 31 games last season. She averaged 12.6 points per game while shooting 45.1% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range, finishing second on the team in scoring. Herman was also a defensive catalyst, swiping 110 steals, one of the top totals in the NAIA. 

Field Anchors the Paint for the Fire
Graduate forward Grace Field returns as SEU's inside presence after posting 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting a team-best 55.2% from the field. Field recorded 19 blocks and 78 steals, showing her ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. 

Depth and Experience on the Wing
The Fire also return three more contributors who played valuable minutes last season—Alley Haas, Rosa Redondo Sorribes, and Victoria McKnight. Haas provided perimeter shooting off the bench, averaging 4.1 points per game with 31 made threes. Redondo Sorribes added energy and versatility on both ends, contributing 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest while ranking among team leaders in assists and steals. McKnight appeared in 16 games, shooting over 54% from the field in limited action.

New Faces, Same Fire Standard
SEU welcomes a balanced and talented group of newcomers to this year's roster, blending size, skill, and international experience. Among the additions are freshmen Eva Bishop (Dawsonville, Ga.) and Sarah Davis (Florence, Ala.), both versatile forwards capable of stretching the floor and rebounding with physicality. Tori Davis, a 6-foot-1 center from Tallahassee, adds rim protection and frontcourt depth, while Grace Pitzer, a 5-foot-9 guard from Ohio powerhouse Mount Notre Dame, brings perimeter shooting and high basketball IQ. Kylie Waldinger (Mahomet, Ill.) adds another athletic guard option with the ability to defend multiple positions.

The Fire also bolstered their roster with key transfers who bring collegiate experience and maturity. Mafalda Chambel, a junior guard from Allen Community College and native of Turcifal, Portugal, adds a steady hand at the point with strong defensive instincts. Ellah Kissell, a 5-foot-10 guard from Kirkwood CC, provides size and scoring ability on the perimeter. Rounding out the class is Kristiana Kulackovska, a 6-foot senior forward from Latvia who previously played at Bowling Green.

Fire Tied for Second in Sun Conference Preseason Rankings
The Fire enter the 2025-26 campaign tied for second in The Sun Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 55 points and two first-place votes, matching St. Thomas University in both totals. Florida Memorial claimed the top spot with 59 points and five first-place votes, while Coastal Georgia (42) and Keiser (37) rounded out the top five.

Scouting the Eagles
Faulkner University enters Saturday's matchup off a dominant 2-0 start to the 2025-26 season, earning wins over Montreat (86-52) and Ave Maria (88-43). The Eagles have been efficient on both ends of the floor, averaging 87.0 points per game while shooting 52.5% from the field and an impressive 41.7% from three-point range. Through two games, Avery Rogers and Ruthie Smith have paced the offense with 13.0 points per game each, while Grace Anne Rose (11.5 PPG) and Morgan Holland DeWitt (11.0 PPG) add depth to a balanced attack that features six players averaging seven or more points.

Saturday marks the fourth all-time meeting between Southeastern and Faulkner, with the Fire leading the series 2-1. SEU dropped the first matchup in 2010 but has since won the last two, including last year's 70-64 neutral-site victory. 

Scouting the Barons
Brewton-Parker College will open the 2025-26 season this weekend with two contests in Tuscaloosa, taking on Fisk University on Friday and Stillman College on Saturday before returning home to host Southeastern on Tuesday. The Barons are coming off a 15-13 season in 2024-25 that saw them finish above .500 for the first time since 2021. With key veterans returning and new contributors stepping in, the Barons aim to continue their steady climb in the Southern States Athletic Conference standings this season.

Southeastern holds a 3-0 all-time advantage in the series, including two tight wins during the 2024-25 campaign—89-85 in Lakeland and 77-73 in Mount Vernon. The first meeting between the programs came in 2015, a decisive 87-58 SEU victory on the road.

Looking Ahead
After wrapping up the opening swing at Brewton-Parker, the Fire will remain on the road for two neutral-site matchups at the Cumberlands Classic in Williamsburg, Kentucky. SEU will face Goshen on Thursday, November 6, at 6 p.m., before taking on Defiance on Friday, November 7, at 1 p.m. The two-day event offers SEU a chance to continue building early-season rhythm and chemistry against out-of-region opponents.