Tennessee State University has announced its 2026‑27 Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball schedule, marking the first season under head coach Candice Dupree.
The Lady Tigers open the campaign on December 11 with a home matchup against Western Illinois, a game that sets the tone for a schedule packed with both familiar rivals and new challenges.
After a rough 2025‑26 campaign that ended 5‑24 overall and 4‑15 in conference play, the team is eager to turn the page. Dupree, who previously served as an assistant at the University of Connecticut, brings a fresh philosophy and a determination to restore the program's competitiveness.
Early Non‑Conference Tests
The non‑conference slate features road trips to Southern Indiana on New Year's Eve and to Eastern Illinois on January 2, followed by a home game against Morehead State on January 16. Additional early tests include contests at Lindenwood on January 21 and at Southeast Missouri on January 23.
Home fans will have plenty to cheer for, with Southern Indiana returning to the Gentry Center on January 28 and UT Martin visiting on January 30. The Tigers will also host Morehead State on January 16, creating a mid‑season surge of home games.
Conference Play and Road Warriors
Starting January 7, the Lady Tigers enter OVC competition with a home game against Western Illinois at the Gentry Center. The schedule then alternates between home and away fixtures, including trips to Lindenwood on February 4, Morehead State on February 6, and Eastern Illinois on February 11.
The road stretch continues with games at SIUE on February 17 and at UT Martin on February 25, before the regular season finale at home against Southeast Missouri on February 27. Each contest is seen as a building block for the team's momentum heading into the postseason.
Looking Toward the OVC Championship
The culmination of the season arrives with the 2027 OVC Women's Basketball Championship in Evansville, Indiana, scheduled for March 3‑6 at the Ford Center. The Lady Tigers will join the conference's top teams in a bid to capture the title and secure an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
With a clear roadmap laid out by the athletic department and a coaching staff led by Candice Dupree, the Lady Tigers hope to translate early-season progress into sustained success. The upcoming schedule offers a blend of winnable matchups and tough road tests, all designed to sharpen the team's resolve as they aim to climb out of last season's 5‑24 record.