Cleveland, Miss. - The Delta State University women's basketball team will kick off their season with an exhibition match against the University of Louisiana Lafeyette Ragin' Cajuns. This will take place from the Cajundome in Lafayette, LA at 5:00 PM this Friday.
 
Catch the game on ESPN+
On the Lady Statesmen:

• The Lady Statesmen return 5 players from a last years' 13-15 season.
• Madi Kate Vuncannon was last year's leading 3-point shooter, with 60 3's made on a 38.5% 3-point percentage.
• Olivia Allen is the Lady Statesmen's top returning scorer, averaging 9 points per game and shooting 41% from the field.
• Dakiya Toney is the top returning rebounder, averaging over 6 per game in the 2024-25 campaign, and leading the team in defensive rebounds with 119.
• The Lady Statesmen have 3 newcomers to watch including Bailey Featherstone, Kennedee Shelton, and Jariyah Williamson.
• Featherstone comes from St. Edward's University where she averaged 8.7 points and over 3 rebounds per game.
• Shelton transfers from Arkansas-Monticello after averaging 5.7 points per game on a 72% field goal percentage.
• Williamson transfers to Delta State after playing at Southeast Missouri State where she averaged 3.6 points per game with 33 assists and 30 steals.

On the Ragin' Cajuns:

• The Louisiana Women's Basketball team plays its second home game on the opening week of the college basketball season.
• The Ragin' Cajuns launched the 2025-26 season, the 14th under the guidance of Garry Brodhead, on Monday, November 3 at the Cajundome hosting Bowling Green in a MAC-SBC Challenge game.
• Bowling Green scored the first nine points of the third quarter to expand its 39-37 halftime lead, separating from Louisiana after closely matched first half.
• For the second time in as many games to start the season the Ragin' Cajuns face a first-time opponent.
• Freshman Amijah Price scored a team-leading 17 points in the season opener. Mikaylah Manley (15) and Jazmyne Jackson (13) joined her in scoring double figures.
• UL scored double digits in every quarter, continuing a trend which began in the two exhibition games.
• Freshman Imani Daniel posted a team-high nine rebounds vs. Bowling Green including four on the offensive end. The Ragin' Cajuns held a 16-12 edge on the offensive glass.
• The Ragin' Cajuns group embarking on the 2025-26 season is entirely new to the program – the 11-member roster consisting of eight transfers and three freshmen.
• The 2025-26 season marks the arrival of a highly touted freshman class, all products from the state of Louisiana. Imani Daniel (John Curtis), Amijah Price (Woodlawn) and Arionna Patterson (Walker) were ranked Top 10 prospects in the State of Louisiana by either Prep Girls Hoops or Louisiana Girls.
• Transfers Mikaylah Manley (from Southern Miss) and Jazmyne Jackson (from Georgia Southern) provide familiarity, both having previously competed in the Sun Belt Conference.
• Garry Brodhead also has a change of the guard within his coaching staff. All-American collegiate standout, WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Temeka Johnson has taken over the associate head coach duties while Kacie Cryer, the program's chief of staff for the past three seasons, was elevated to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.