A bit of the mystery cleared with Monday’s release of the full 2025-26 schedule for the Indiana State women’s basketball team.
The Missouri Valley Conference also unveiled its schedule for the 11 member schools, leading to the announcement of ISU’s slate.
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In under three weeks, the Sycamore women will begin the upcoming college season with a Nov. 3 opener at the University of Indianapolis, where ISU head coach Marc Mitchell previously coached. Mitchell guided the NCAA Division II Greyhounds for two seasons, compiling a 31-27 cumulative record.
Mitchell’s first ISU team recorded records of 4-28 overall and 2-18 in the MVC last season. An entirely new roster of Sycamore players will try to improve on the 2024-25 marks. Fourteen new recruits are on board, after last season’s potential returnees left via the NCAA transfer portal.
The current squad opens its the 20-game MVC portion of its schedule on Dec. 17 against Drake, which tied for third place in the conference. It’s the earliest conference opener in Indiana State’s Division I history, according to an ISU news release. Indiana State closes the 2025 calendar year with a Dec. 29 tilt at Illinois State.
Indiana State plays on New Year’s Day for the first time since the 2020-21 season when Valparaiso pays a visit to Hulman Center. Back-to-back Sunday road games at UIC (Jan. 4) and Bradley (Jan. 11) follow before the Trees return home to face Belmont (Jan. 15) and Evansville (Jan. 18). Road dates at Southern Illinois (Jan. 22) and Valparaiso (Jan. 29) are sandwiched between a Jan. 25 home contest against Illinois State.
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ISU’s February slate opens with a road game at Evansville (Feb. 1), before consecutive home games against defending MVC regular-season and tournament champ Murray State (Feb. 5) and Bradley (Feb. 7).
Indiana State follows with the Iowa road swing at Northern Iowa (Feb. 12) and Drake (Feb. 14), before UIC (Feb. 19) and Southern Illinois (Feb. 21) pay a visit to Hulman Center. The Sycamores head south to end the month at Murray State (Feb. 26) and Belmont (Feb. 28).
Indiana State’s final game of the regular season comes March 5, with Northern Iowa closing the MVC slate inside Hulman Center. The 2026 MVC tournament will take place March 12-15 in Xtream Arena at Coralville, Iowa.
Indiana State’s home games will tip at 7 p.m. on weekdays (Monday through Friday) and 2 p.m. on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), with two exceptions. The Sycamores’ Nov. 24 game against Saint Mary-of-the-Woods will be an 11 a.m. tip for Education Day, while the New Year’s Day game against Valparaiso will be a 2 p.m. tip.
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Tip times for the remaining games will be announced at a later date.
Mitchell’s roster includes Samivah Briggs (a transfer from Livingstone), Da’Naria Washington (Governors State), Jayci Allen (Northwestern Ohio), Ruth Sodipe (Langston), Yasmeen Brightwell (Union College), Kennedy Claybrooks (Southeast Missouri State), Tierney Kelsey (Jackson State), Kayla Smith (Mercer), Amaya Blake (Emporia State), Clemisha Prackett (Mississippi Valley State), Kennedi Ard (McLennan), Nala Abraham (Delaware State), Amerie Flowers (McLennan) and Camariyana Tavares (Alabama State).
Season and single-game tickets for Indiana State home games are available, starting at $40 for lower-level seats. Single-game ticket prices start at $6. Ticket information is available by contacting Grant Manning, assistant manager of athletic ticketing at 812-237-8972 or Grant.Manning@indstate.edu.
