CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University Women's Basketball program open their 2026-27 season as they hit the road to take on the Bearcats from McKendree University.
 
Tipoff will be Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the Melvin Price Convocation Center on the campus of McKendree University.
 
Delta State Sports Information Coordinator Braden Treaster will be on the call on the Statesmen Sports Radio Network on Rejoice AM 1490 AM WCLD. The Pregame show will be at 5:30 p.m.
 
Scouting the Lady Statesmen

• Delta State opens up 2026-27 season as they are picked fourth in the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll announced a few weeks back. The Lady Statesmen had a conference semifinal appearance in the 2025-26 season with an 18-11 overall record and a 15-7 record in the GSC,
• DSU returns leading scorer Jariyah Williamson to the lineup for the 2026-27 season. Williamson averaged 11.8 points per game in the 2025-26 season and was the GSC Newcomer of the Year.
• Lady Statesmen also return sharpshooter Madi Kate Vuncannon who is creeping up in the record books for career three-point field goals made and attempted. The Tiplersville native enters this season with 404 attempted three-point field goals (6th all-time) and 156 made three-point field goals (5th all-time).
• Junior guard Vivian Sketoe, freshman guard Sydney Glahn, and freshman guard Maddie Mannion were the trio named to the GSC Newcomers to Watch list.
• Sketoe transferred to Delta State from conference rival Mississippi College in the spring. As a Choctaw in 2025-26, the Lake Arthur, La., native led MC with 69 assists and 39 steals. Sketoe averaged 9 points per game, shooting 33.0 percent from beyond the arch and 42.9 percent from the field
• Glahn is an incoming freshman for the Lady Statesmen coming from nearby Oxford, Miss. Glahn was a two-sport athlete at Oxford High School, playing basketball and soccer. As a Charger, Glahn earned all-state, all-region and first team all-district performer. Glahn transferred to Oxford her senior year of high school from Mount Pisgah High School outside of Atlanta. During her senior season, she surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her high school career.
• Mannion is another freshman guard with high aspirations on the Lady Statesmen roster for the 2026-27 season. The Vilonia, Ark., native holds the record for most three-point field goals in Vilonia High School history along with knocking down the most three-pointers in a season in the history of girls high school basketball in the state of Arkansas. Mannion has led Vilonia High School to two state championship appearances, one her sophomore year and the other her junior year.

Scouting the Bearcats

• Just like Delta State, McKendree enters the 2026-27 picked fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Bearcats are head coached by Kari Kerkhoff begins her 12th season with a team coming off an 18-9 finish and a 15-5 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Bearcats won their final seven regular-season games last winter and were picked fourth in this year's GLVC preseason coaches' poll.
• Parks gives McKendree an established option when it needs a basket. The senior averaged 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 52.3 percent from the field last season, earning First Team All-GLVC and D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team recognition. Her ability to score inside and step away from the basket gives the Bearcats several ways to get her involved.
• Emma Slings returns at the point after starting all 27 games and finishing with 106 assists against 56 turnovers. Madison Johnson made 22 starts in her first season at McKendree, averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds. Their experience should help the Bearcats organize as newcomers settle into their first regular-season game with the program.