CLEVELAND, Ga. – Truett McConnell women's basketball is set to start the 2026-27 season with a home game vs. Talladega at Benjamin F. Brady Arena tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.
 
The Lady Bears enter the season with four newcomers on a 14-player roster, the other ten players being returners from 2025-26. The roster features three freshmen, six sophomores, two juniors and three seniors. 12 athletes are from the home state of Georgia while the other two come from bordering states South Carolina and Florida, respectively.
 
TMU is coming off a 6-22 campaign which included a 5-15 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. It ranked 12^th in the conference standings, two spots away from the last seed in the AAC Tournament.  Entering the new season, it was selected as the 12^th ranked team in the AAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.
 
"I think this year we are more energetic and together as a group," head coach Tiek Fields said. "I think the want to do better is there."
 
Truett will look to improve upon its statistics from last season. It was last in the AAC in points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage and average rebounds.
 
Senior Brinkley Kate Reed is returning for the Lady Bears. Last season, she averaged 12.2 points per game before her campaign ended via injury on Dec. 20. Ava Queen, who averaged 8.2 ppg and 4.1 boards per game also returns to solidify the team.
 
"It means a lot to have her back," Fields said. "She was in a really good rhythm before going down last season."
 
TMU aims for its first appearance in the AAC Tournament since 2024-25 and its first AAC Tournament win since 2023-24, a 55-44 victory over No. 9 seeded Columbia College. The program hasn't had a winning record since the 2021-22 season, where it recorded an 18-14 overall record and 13-11 mark in conference.
 
"The biggest thing is we have to learn how to win and that requires players to step up," Fields said.
 
Out of the 28 total games on the schedule, 13 will be played at Benjamin F. Brady Arena, a venue where the team saw a 4-8 record last season. Notable road stretches for the team include a trip to Arizona from Nov. 6-7 with games vs. Arizona Christian University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) and a five-game road streak which spans from Dec. 5 through Jan. 6.
 
After tomorrow's contest with Talladega, the Lady Bears face two in-state road trips to Georgia Gwinnett on Oct. 28 and Toccoa Falls on Oct. 31 to end the month.