LEBANON, Ill. – The women's basketball team has put a stamp on its season schedule for the 2025-26 year on Tuesday, August 19th, as they embark on their 14th year as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
The Kari Kerkhoff era will now be in its 11th year within the Bearcat program. Last year, she led the team to a 15-11 overall record with a 11-9 mark in conference play as it was the second-straight year that program eclipsed 15 wins in the regular season and a 50% or better finish in GLVC action.
Kerkhoff gave her thoughts on this year's schedule
"Every game is an opportunity for our team to grow, compete, and showcase the work we have been putting in. Our goal is to be prepared, battle together, and make Bearcat fans proud each time we step on the court."
The team will start off with a couple of exhibitions to get their minds ready for what is ahead in mid-November as they will travel to Division I Southern Illinois University in Carbondale on Wednesday, October 29th. Fans will get to see their Bearcats in action for the first time this season nine days later when they face Culver-Stockton College in their second of two exhibition matches on Friday, November 7th at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center at 6:00 PM CT.
The regular season opener on Friday, November 14th will also take place at the McKendree home venue where another NAIA member, Harris-Stowe State University, comes into town for Education Day at 12:00 PM CT.
McKendree will also participate in Quincy University's annual Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Classic for a fourth consecutive year on November 21st and 22nd against Purdue University Northwest and Missouri Southern State University, respectively. Last year, they went 2-0 in the Classic, which helped spark a 7-0 start to the season.
Right after the Hansen-Spear, the Bearcats will immediately get their first look at their GLVC schedule with a road matchup against nearby Maryville University in St. Louis on Tuesday, November 25th at 5:15 PM CT to begin a three-game conference stretch before hosting Davenport University and Eureka College to wrap up 2025 calendar year.
The first action of 2026 will resume the rest of the GLVC slate with a home matchup against in-state opponent Lewis University on Friday, January 2nd at 5:30 PM CT, and the University of Indianapolis two days later on Saturday, January 4th at 1:00 PM.
From there, McKendree will alternate between road trips and home stands every other week, as Alumni Day will take place within the second matchup of the season against Maryville on Saturday, January 31st at 1:00 PM CT inside the Harry M. Statham Sports Center.
The tentative final home game of the 2025-26 season, which marks Senior Day, will be played on Saturday, February 21st against the Hawks of Quincy University with tip-off set at 1:00 PM CT.
A trip to the western part of Missouri to face Rockhurst University on Thursday, February 26th and Southwest Baptist University on Saturday, February 28th will round out the regular season slate for the Bearcats.
The GLVC Conference Tournament, should the Bearcats clinch a spot, will take place from Thursday, March 5th, to Sunday, March 8th, with time specifics and hosting location(s) to be announced.
Live streams, live statistics, and tickets (when made available) can be found on the schedule page and will be updated throughout the season.
To view the full 2025-26 season schedule, click HERE.
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