Wednesday, November 4
Nacogdoches, TX
11:00 a.m.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
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University of Dallas
11/3/2026 10:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Seven returners, six newcomers, and a pursuit of a third straight Southland Tournament title headline the Ladyjacks’ 2026–27 season.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin women's basketball opens the 2026–27 season against the University of Dallas on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at William R. Johnson Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. as the Ladyjacks welcome area students to the Sawmill for ISD Day.
Entering its fourth season under head coach Leonard Bishop, SFA returns seven players from a team that finished 25–10, captured its second consecutive Southland Conference Tournament championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. With six newcomers joining that returning group, here are 10 things to know heading into the season.
The Opener
Opponent:Â University of Dallas
Date:Â Wednesday, Nov. 4
Tipoff:Â 11 a.m.
Location:Â William R. Johnson Coliseum
TV: ESPN+
Radio: SFAJacks.com or VarsityApp
Promotion:Â ISD Day
Series:Â First meeting
1. THE ROAD TO THREE
The Ladyjacks begin their pursuit of a third consecutive Southland Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Last March, third-seeded SFA won three games in three days, defeating Nicholls 63–60, Lamar 64–59 in overtime, and top-seeded McNeese 71–59 to claim the program's 18th Southland Tournament title.
Seven players from last season's championship roster return for 2026–27, providing familiarity with Bishop's system as SFA begins another title chase.
2. FAMILIAR FACES, NEW POSSIBILITIES
SFA's 13-player roster features seven returners, two transfers and four freshmen. The Ladyjacks bring back 1,524 of last season's 2,635 points, returning 57.8 percent of their scoring production.
Myka Perry, Cha Gardner and Kaylinn Kemp combined for 97 starts last season. Aziyah Farrier, Lydia Cajuste, Anika Hyland and Avery VanSickle round out the returning group, giving SFA experience across its lineup while creating opportunities for newcomers to contribute.
3. PERRY PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Myka Perry delivered on the championship stage, scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting against McNeese to earn Southland Tournament MVP honors.
The junior enters the season as SFA's leading returning scorer after producing 403 points and averaging 11.5 per game in 2025–26. Perry started all 35 games and added 159 rebounds, 68 assists and 57 steals, contributing well beyond the scoring column.
4. KEMP'S NEXT CHAPTER
Kaylinn Kemp's freshman season placed her among some of the most productive first-year players in program history. Her 163 assists rank second on SFA's freshman list, while her 65 steals stand third.
Kemp scored 363 points in 33 appearances and shot 83.5 percent at the free-throw line, making 86 of 103 attempts. After establishing career highs of 24 points and 11 assists, she returns with a full season of experience directing the Ladyjack offense.
5. PROTECTION IN THE PAINT
Aziyah Farrier and Cha Gardner give SFA a returning presence around the basket. The pair combined for 105 blocks last season—22 more than SFA's opponents recorded against the entire Ladyjack team.
Farrier's 66 rejections established a program freshman record and rank fourth on SFA's single-season list. Gardner added 39 blocks, and the duo combined for 440 rebounds, including 143 on the offensive glass.
6. VANSICKLE WITH HISTORY IN RANGE
Graduate guard Avery VanSickle enters the season with 126 career three-pointers, needing 11 to tie Katrina Price for 10th in program history.
A career 37.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, VanSickle connected at a 44.8 percent rate during the 2024–25 season. Her school-record nine three-pointers against Texas A&M–San Antonio on Dec. 29, 2024, fueled a career-high 31-point performance. Her return adds an experienced perimeter option to the Ladyjack offense.
7. EXPERIENCE ARRIVES WITH ACKER AND BENNETT
Faith Acker and Taja Bennett bring established college production to SFA's incoming class.
Acker, a Winnsboro native with previous stops at Tarleton State and Oklahoma State, enters with 591 career points, 391 rebounds and 66 blocks. She sits nine points shy of 600 and nine rebounds away from 400.
Bennett joins the Ladyjacks after averaging 19.0 points per game at South Georgia Technical College in 2025–26. Her season included a 27-point performance in the GCAA championship game, giving SFA another proven scoring option.
8. BISHOP BUILDS ON THREE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS
Leonard Bishop enters his fourth season with a 76–28 record and a .731 winning percentage as SFA's head coach. His first three teams recorded 22, 29 and 25 wins, respectively.
The Ladyjacks have reached a conference tournament championship game in each of those seasons, advancing to the 2024 WAC final before winning the 2025 and 2026 Southland titles. Bishop begins the year 24 victories away from 100 career head-coaching wins.
9. RECOGNITION BEFORE THE OPENING TIP
SFA received eight voting points in the Oct. 29 CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 poll, joining Lamar as the only Southland programs receiving votes.
The Ladyjacks were also selected second in the Southland preseason poll, collecting 113 points and five first-place votes. Lamar finished first with 116 points, placing the two programs just three points apart entering the season.
10. KEEP THE OPENING-DAY TRADITION GOING
SFA enters Wednesday having won five consecutive season openers and 11 consecutive home openers.
Bishop is 3–0 in season and home openers, with the Ladyjacks averaging 96.3 points and a 48.0-point winning margin in those games. Last season, Perry scored 21 points as SFA opened with an 85–54 victory over Nelson.
With area students visiting for ISD Day, the Ladyjacks will look to extend those streaks and give the Sawmill its first celebration of the new season.
THE JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Ladyjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Women's Basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.Â
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Entering its fourth season under head coach Leonard Bishop, SFA returns seven players from a team that finished 25–10, captured its second consecutive Southland Conference Tournament championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. With six newcomers joining that returning group, here are 10 things to know heading into the season.
The Opener
Opponent:Â University of Dallas
Date:Â Wednesday, Nov. 4
Tipoff:Â 11 a.m.
Location:Â William R. Johnson Coliseum
TV: ESPN+
Radio: SFAJacks.com or VarsityApp
Promotion:Â ISD Day
Series:Â First meeting
1. THE ROAD TO THREE
The Ladyjacks begin their pursuit of a third consecutive Southland Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Last March, third-seeded SFA won three games in three days, defeating Nicholls 63–60, Lamar 64–59 in overtime, and top-seeded McNeese 71–59 to claim the program's 18th Southland Tournament title.
Seven players from last season's championship roster return for 2026–27, providing familiarity with Bishop's system as SFA begins another title chase.
2. FAMILIAR FACES, NEW POSSIBILITIES
SFA's 13-player roster features seven returners, two transfers and four freshmen. The Ladyjacks bring back 1,524 of last season's 2,635 points, returning 57.8 percent of their scoring production.
Myka Perry, Cha Gardner and Kaylinn Kemp combined for 97 starts last season. Aziyah Farrier, Lydia Cajuste, Anika Hyland and Avery VanSickle round out the returning group, giving SFA experience across its lineup while creating opportunities for newcomers to contribute.
3. PERRY PICKS UP WHERE SHE LEFT OFF
Myka Perry delivered on the championship stage, scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting against McNeese to earn Southland Tournament MVP honors.
The junior enters the season as SFA's leading returning scorer after producing 403 points and averaging 11.5 per game in 2025–26. Perry started all 35 games and added 159 rebounds, 68 assists and 57 steals, contributing well beyond the scoring column.
4. KEMP'S NEXT CHAPTER
Kaylinn Kemp's freshman season placed her among some of the most productive first-year players in program history. Her 163 assists rank second on SFA's freshman list, while her 65 steals stand third.
Kemp scored 363 points in 33 appearances and shot 83.5 percent at the free-throw line, making 86 of 103 attempts. After establishing career highs of 24 points and 11 assists, she returns with a full season of experience directing the Ladyjack offense.
5. PROTECTION IN THE PAINT
Aziyah Farrier and Cha Gardner give SFA a returning presence around the basket. The pair combined for 105 blocks last season—22 more than SFA's opponents recorded against the entire Ladyjack team.
Farrier's 66 rejections established a program freshman record and rank fourth on SFA's single-season list. Gardner added 39 blocks, and the duo combined for 440 rebounds, including 143 on the offensive glass.
6. VANSICKLE WITH HISTORY IN RANGE
Graduate guard Avery VanSickle enters the season with 126 career three-pointers, needing 11 to tie Katrina Price for 10th in program history.
A career 37.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, VanSickle connected at a 44.8 percent rate during the 2024–25 season. Her school-record nine three-pointers against Texas A&M–San Antonio on Dec. 29, 2024, fueled a career-high 31-point performance. Her return adds an experienced perimeter option to the Ladyjack offense.
7. EXPERIENCE ARRIVES WITH ACKER AND BENNETT
Faith Acker and Taja Bennett bring established college production to SFA's incoming class.
Acker, a Winnsboro native with previous stops at Tarleton State and Oklahoma State, enters with 591 career points, 391 rebounds and 66 blocks. She sits nine points shy of 600 and nine rebounds away from 400.
Bennett joins the Ladyjacks after averaging 19.0 points per game at South Georgia Technical College in 2025–26. Her season included a 27-point performance in the GCAA championship game, giving SFA another proven scoring option.
8. BISHOP BUILDS ON THREE SUCCESSFUL SEASONS
Leonard Bishop enters his fourth season with a 76–28 record and a .731 winning percentage as SFA's head coach. His first three teams recorded 22, 29 and 25 wins, respectively.
The Ladyjacks have reached a conference tournament championship game in each of those seasons, advancing to the 2024 WAC final before winning the 2025 and 2026 Southland titles. Bishop begins the year 24 victories away from 100 career head-coaching wins.
9. RECOGNITION BEFORE THE OPENING TIP
SFA received eight voting points in the Oct. 29 CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25 poll, joining Lamar as the only Southland programs receiving votes.
The Ladyjacks were also selected second in the Southland preseason poll, collecting 113 points and five first-place votes. Lamar finished first with 116 points, placing the two programs just three points apart entering the season.
10. KEEP THE OPENING-DAY TRADITION GOING
SFA enters Wednesday having won five consecutive season openers and 11 consecutive home openers.
Bishop is 3–0 in season and home openers, with the Ladyjacks averaging 96.3 points and a 48.0-point winning margin in those games. Last season, Perry scored 21 points as SFA opened with an 85–54 victory over Nelson.
With area students visiting for ISD Day, the Ladyjacks will look to extend those streaks and give the Sawmill its first celebration of the new season.
THE JACKS HAVE GONE MOBILE
SFA Athletics' newest mobile phone application is designed to bring Ladyjack fans closer to the action than ever before. Available now on both the App Store and Google Play, the new SFA Athletics app delivers schedules, scores, rosters, news, ticket access, and exclusive content right to your phone. Fans can also receive push notifications, so they never miss a moment of the action. Download now: Official SFA Athletics App.
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Women's Basketball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.Â
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#AxeEm x #BeU
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