Tusculum Announces 2025-2026 Women’s Basketball Schedule

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — The Tusculum University women’s basketball team has announced its 2025-26 schedule, which includes a total of 28 regular-season games and 22 South Atlantic Conference contests.

Head coach Roger Hodge begins his third season with the Pioneers with five returning players joining five transfers and five freshmen on the roster. Tusculum went 9-19 overall and 7-17 in SAC play during the 2025-26 season.

Prior to the start of the regular season, the Pioneers will visit Western Carolina for an exhibition game on Sunday, Nov. 9. The Catamounts were 13-17 overall and 3-11 in Southern Conference play last season

The Pioneers officially open the season at the Region Crossover hosted by Columbus State University on November 14-15. Tusculum will face the host Cougars on Friday, November 14 at 5 p.m. and take on Lees-McRae on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3:30 p.m. the Pioneers played both teams to tip off the 2024-25 campaign in the Region Challenge held at Pioneer Arena.

Columbus State went 21-9 last season and placed second in the Peach Belt Conference with a 14-4 record, earning an NCAA Division II Tournament berth and beating Francis Marion 89-83 in the first round before falling to North Georgia in the second round. The Cougars are 3-1 all-time against the Pioneers, with a 94-87 win in last year’s Region Challenge.

Lees-McRae ended the year with a 7-18 overall record and 5-15 in Conference Carolinas, which included a 78-70 win over the Pioneers in the season opener. The Pioneers are 17-6 all-time against the Bobcats, which includes a 2-2 mark in tip-off challenge events over the past 11 years.

The Pioneers host Young Harris in their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 19 for the first of two non-conference meetings with the Mountain Lions. Young Harris was 22-9 last season and 14-6 in Conference Carolinas, advancing to the league semifinals before being eliminated by Francis Marion. The Pioneers have won two of the three all-time meetings with the Mountain Lions, including a 70-69 road win on Nov. 29, 2023.

After a break for Thanksgiving, Tusculum opens SAC play with a matchup with defending conference champion Coker on Saturday, Nov. 29. The Cobras had a memorable 2024-25 season, winning the league regular-season title with a 20-4 record and finishing runner-up in the SAC Tournament. Coker then won the Southeast Region championship and went to the Elite Eight, where the Cobras lost 82-66 to Cal State-Dominguez Hills to end the year at 29-6. Coker swept the season series from Tusculum last season, with the Pioneers still leading the all-time series 16-7.

Tusculum opens December by concluding a three-game home stretch against King. The Tornado were 13-16 overall and 10-10 in Conference Carolinas last season. This will be the first meeting between the local rivals since an 82-62 Tusculum win on Nov. 9, 2019. The Pioneers lead the all-time series over the Tornado by a margin of 22-17.

The Pioneers head back to the road to play Wingate on Saturday, Dec. 6. The Bulldogs tied for third in the SAC at 17-7 and fell to Coker in the SAC semifinals to end the season with a 19-11 record. Wingate took a pair of wins over Tusculum last season and leads the all-time series 41-16.

Tusculum is home to take on longtime rival Carson-Newman on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Eagles finished second in the SAC at 18-6 last season and advanced to the Southeast Region semifinals, where they fell to Coker to end the season at 23-9 overall. The Eagles won both meetings with the Pioneers last year and have a 64-21 advantage in the all-time series.

The final home game for the Pioneers in December is against Catawba on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Indians took fifth place in the SAC at 15-9 last season and ended the year with a 17-12 overall mark. Catawba’s season sweep of Tusculum last year left the Indians with a 30-25 edge in the all-time series with the Pioneers.

Tusculum will not play another home game for five weeks, as the Pioneers head to the road for seven straight contests starting Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Mars Hill. The Lions turned in a 14-10 conference record last season and had a 17-12 overall record during the 2024-25 season. The teams split the season series with each winning at home, leaving the Pioneers with a 38-31 advantage in the all-time series.

The Pioneers will step back out of conference for their final two games of December, beginning with a visit to USC Aiken on Saturday, Dec. 20. The Pacers were 6-22 overall and 3-15 in the Peach Belt Conference last season, which included a 95-78 loss to the Pioneers in Greeneville. The teams have split their six all-time meetings. Tusculum will finish the month with a New Year’s Eve visit to Young Harris on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

The new year begins for the Pioneers with a trip to Newberry on Saturday, Jan. 3. The Wolves were 6-22 overall and 5-19 in conference play last season, with the Pioneers sweeping the season series to extend their lead in the all-time series to 33-27.

The Pioneers visit Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The Railsplitters were seventh in the SAC at 12-12 last season and finished with a 13-15 overall record. The teams split the season series last year, with each winning on the road, and Lincoln Memorial leads the all-time series 47-40.

Tusculum’s road swing continues as the Pioneers go to Anderson on Saturday, Jan. 10. The Trojans won the SAC Tournament championship after finishing tied for third in the conference at 17-7, then lost to Carson-Newman in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to end the season at 24-10. The Trojans’ season sweep of the Pioneers pushed Anderson’s lead in the all-time series to 24-11.

The Pioneers visit UVA Wise on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to face a Cavaliers squad that was 8-16 in conference play and 11-17 overall last season. The teams took turns winning on the road in last year’s two meetings, and Tusculum owns a 23-11 lead in the all-time series.

Tusculum is back in Pioneer Arena for the first time in 35 days to take on Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Bears were 12-16 overall and 10-14 in SAC play, and their series sweep of the Pioneers cut Tusculum’s advantage in the all-time series to 30-28.

The first half of conference play wraps up on Wednesday, Jan. 21 with a visit from Emory & Henry. The Wasps are coming off a 7-23 season and a 2-22 record in SAC play, which includes a sweep by the Pioneers. Tusculum holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series with Emory & Henry, including a 4-2 record since the Wasps joined the SAC for the 2023-24 season.

Tusculum will go on the road to Coker on Saturday, Jan. 24 and then to Carson-Newman on Wednesday, Jan. 28 before hosting Wingate on Saturday, Jan. 31. Five of the final eight games for the Pioneers will be at home, starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4 with Lincoln Memorial. After a trip to Catawba on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Pioneers will have three in a row at home against Mars Hill (Feb. 11), Newberry (Feb. 14) and UVA Wise (Feb. 18).

The Pioneers wind down the regular season with visits to Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, Feb. 21 and Emory & Henry on Saturday, Feb. 25 before welcoming Anderson for Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The South Atlantic Conference Tournament will be held at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center from March 4-7, with NCAA Tournament play starting on March 13. The Division II Elite Eight will be held in Pittsburgh from March 24-28.

– TU –

2025-26 Tusculum Women’s Basketball Schedule

* South Atlantic Conference Game

HOME GAMES IN BOLD

All times Eastern & Subject to Change