Season Preview: Women's Basketball
With the 2025–26 season tipping off this November, the Mineral Area College Cardinals women's basketball team enters the campaign with renewed energy, depth across the roster, and a schedule built to test them against some of the NJCAA's elite.
Early Tests and Non-Conference Challenges
The MAC home opener arrives November 1 against Lincoln Trail College, followed quickly by a visit from Vincennes University (Nov. 4) and Southwestern Illinois College (Nov. 11).
The schedule intensifies mid-November when MAC travels south for the Gulf Coast Classic in Panama City, Florida. There, the Cardinals will face No. 1 Northwest Florida State College (Nov. 21)—the defending national champions and preseason top-ranked team—and No. 10 Gulf Coast State College (Nov. 22). Few programs at the JUCO level face a tougher back-to-back stretch this early in the season.
The Cardinals return home to close November with a critical matchup against No. 20 Wabash Valley College (Nov. 25), followed by a road trip to Olney Central College (Nov. 29) to round out the month.
The Midseason Grind
December brings a mix of non-conference battles and the SFC Rotary Shootout, where the Cardinals look to build momentum before Region 16 play. Matchups at Lincoln Trail (Dec. 1), John A. Logan (Dec. 3), and home dates versus Coahoma (Dec. 6) and Olney Central (Dec. 13) offer chances to fine-tune the team's rhythm.
MAC finishes 2025 with road trips to Vincennes (Dec. 17) and a home finale against Rend Lake College (Dec. 20), setting the tone for January and Region 16 play.
Region 16: The Battle Begins
Once the calendar turns, the real tests begin. Region 16 competition tips off in mid-January with a tough road swing at Crowder College (Jan. 14) and No. 6 Three Rivers (Jan. 17)—a two-game stretch that could shape early conference standings.
The Cardinals' homecoming game (Jan. 31) against Three Rivers is already circled on the calendar, promising a packed Bob Sechrest Field House atmosphere. Other key home contests include Moberly Area (Jan. 21) and State Fair (Jan. 24)—both top-tier Region 16 opponents.
February offers no respite. The Cardinals will face Moberly (Feb. 7, Feb. 28), State Fair (Feb. 11), and Crowder (Feb. 25) in a final stretch that will determine seeding for the Region 16 Tournament, beginning March 5.
Postseason
The Cardinals' ultimate goal remains the same—capture the Region 16 Championship and punch a ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
With a challenging non-conference schedule designed to sharpen the team for postseason play, the 2025–26 season looks to be an exciting one.