MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's basketball team opens the 2025-26 season this weekend at the GSC/SSC Challenge with games against No. 12 Embry-Riddle (Nov. 14) and No. 19 Nova Southeastern (Nov. 15) in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Head Coach Olivia Chapman is happy with the growth shown from her team during the preseason and looks forward to seeing her competitive group take the floor.
"This a very competitive group. They do a good job of pushing each other [and] holding on to the standards that we have for this program," said Chapman. "Really happy with the growth these women have shown, the love they have for one another and the way they care for each other."
The Falcons put together a tough preseason schedule which included a pair of exhibition contests to prepare for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. Montevallo defeated Huntingdon, 77-53, on Oct. 24, before falling at Samford on Nov. 3. "You play those games to prepare, and we open up with one of the toughest two games in the country… we knew as a coaching staff we needed to prepare our players," said Chapman.
Montevallo was picked to finish eighth in the 2025-26 GSC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, while Union was tabbed first followed by Lee and UAH. Last year the Falcons finished with an overall record of 11-17 and a 9-13 mark in GSC play.
Montevallo returns eight from the 2024-25 roster, including Lia Edwards who was the third leading scorer for the Falcons, averaging 10.9 points, while ranking second on the team in total rebounds with 115. The Falcons also return Jerrilyn Richardson and Julia Susla who saw valuable minutes down the stretch last season. Graduate student Sidney Jones returns after sitting out last year due to injury.
Edwards and Jones spoke on their mindset going into the season.
"I feel like this is our revenge tour. With the pieces that we have now, with the grit, focus, and fearless we have now… everyone should be looking out for us." – Sidney Jones
"What's going to fuel us this season is energy… That will separate us from other teams and in the conference… At the end of the day, we are going to compete, and we are going to win." – Lia Edwards
The 2025-26 squad features seven new faces and Coach Chapman is pleased with everything her newcomers have brought so far.
"They have brought a spark and a competitiveness that has unleashed some grit, tenacity and additional competitiveness in the ones we had returning," said Chapman. "They mesh well, they bring efficiency, they bring athleticism, and they bring defense that we needed."
A trio of Falcons were named to the GSC Newcomer Watchlist in Audrey Hendrix, Elyse Hughes, and Emily Mouser. Hendrix spent one year at Neosho County Community College where she averaged 8.3 points and ranked second on the team in three-pointers made with (53). Hughes spent three seasons at UAH where she totaled 311 points, 144 rebounds, 47 assists, 23 steals, and 21 blocks. Mouser garnered All-State and All-Metro honors, as she averaged 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in her final season at Madison Academy.
Montevallo opens the season with a pair of ranked opponents in No. 12 Embry-Riddle and No. 19 Nova Southeastern. The Eagles finished the 2024-25 season with a 27-5 overall record which included sweeping the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championships. The Sharks closed last season with a 27-7 overall record which included a deep NCAA Tournament run to the South Region Championship.
Tipoff at the ICI Center is set for 10:00 a.m. CST on Friday, Nov. 14.
