BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University women's basketball team took the court at the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena Wednesday for its first practice of the 2026-27 season. The Cardinals will open the regular season Nov. 2 against Louisiana Christian, with the tip-off time yet to be announced.
Big Red is coming off its fourth consecutive 20-win campaign under head coach
Aqua Franklin, finishing 20-11 overall and 17-5 in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals earned the second seed in the Southland Conference Tournament and also qualified for the WNIT.
LU returns six members from last season's squad, including their top three leading scorers:
Kamryn Wilson (5-9, Jr., Grand Prairie),
Jacei Denley (5-7, Sr., Beaumont) and
Shaila Forman (5-9, So., Baton Rouge, La.). Wilson averaged 10.8 points per game and earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors. Denley (10.1 ppg) dished out 85 assists and shared the team lead in steals (46) with Forman, who tallied 10.0 ppg and 89 free throws.
Senior
Solenne Olenga (6'1, Lubumbashi, DR Congo) is coming off a season in which she pulled down 5.8 rebounds per game and led the team with 17 blocks. Also returning for the Cardinals are junior
Molly Powell (6-1, Jr., Nome) and sophomore
Keyiona McDaniel (5-11, So., Kountze).
The Cardinals will be adding seven newcomers, including transfers
Brooklyn Alexander (6-1, Jr., Houston),
Kennedi Alexander (6-1, Jr., Houston),
Jada Graves (5-3, Jr., Amarillo),
Te'Sani Green (6-1, Jr., Omaha, Neb.), and
Larissa Hubbard (5-11, Jr., Gulfport, Miss.), plus freshmen
Jordan Pete (5-6, San Antonio) and
Kyndall Roberts (5-3, Houston).
