5 Things To Know About G-MAC Women's Basketball In 2026-27

With a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line, every G-MAC Women's Basketball game is important. Here's what to know ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Oct 22, 2026 by Cristiana Rosa

Replay: Northwood vs Hillsdale | Feb 28 @ 1 PM2:10:42

Competition in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) began during the 2012-13 academic year. Since then, 13 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Champions have been crowned; the 14th will hoist the trophy high this year.

Northwood Women's Basketball is expected to win the 2026-27 title after a dominant 2025-26 campaign, but Ashland, Walsh, Thomas More and the remaining nine teams will look to shake up predictions and take the crown for themselves.

The winner of the 2027 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2027 NCAA Division II Midwest Regionals. There’s a lot on the line, and a lot of games to be played.

Here are five things you need to know about G-MAC women’s basketball ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

UPCOMING

2026 Findlay vs Otterbein - Women's

Wed, Oct 28 · 11:00 PM UTC

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What Teams Play Women’s Basketball In The G-MAC?

The G-MAC consists of 13 women’s basketball teams competing for one Tournament title.

What Happened During The 2025-26 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Season?

Northwood Women’s Basketball finished at the top during the 2025-26 G-MAC women’s basketball season. The TimberWolves finished with a 19-1 record in conference play and a 28-6 record overall. They were trailed by Malone, who went 16-4 in the G-MAC and 25-7 overall. Thomas More (14-6, 22-7) and Walsh (12-8, 17-13) occupied the third and fourth-place spots in the standings.

Northwood (19-1, 28-6)
Malone (16-4, 25-7)
Thomas More (14-6, 22-7)
Walsh (12-8, 17-13)
Hillsdale (11-9, 15-12)
Findlay (11-0, 16-13)
Kentucky Wesleyan (11-9, 15-12)
Ashland (10-10, 14-13)
Ohio Dominican (9-11, 14-14)
Cedarville (7-13, 12-16)
Tiffin (4-16, 9-18)
Lake Erie (4-16, 5-21)
Ursuline (2-18, 5-22)

Great Midwest Sportsmanship Award: Ursuline College

Great Midwest Player of the Year: Maeve St. John (Sr.), Northwood

Great Midwest Freshman of the Year: Jenna Slates (Fr.), Ashland

Great Midwest Coach of the Year: Autumn Hunter, Northwood

NCAA Elite 26 Award Winner: Lena Stinebrickner, Kentucky Wesleyan

First-Team All-G-MAC

Jenna Slates (Fr.), Ashland

Alyssa Ziehler (Sr.), Findlay

Savannah Smith (Jr.), Hillsdale

Annalise Pietrzyk (Jr.), Hillsdale

Erin Kaufman (Sr.), Malone

Maeve St. John (Sr.), Northwood

Lea Holmes (RS So.), Northwood

Sereniti Webb (Sr.), Thomas More

Rylee Turner (Sr.), Thomas More

Kiley Dyrlund (RS Jr.), Walsh

Second-Team All-G-MAC

Ashley Mullet (So.), Ashland

Ella Sellars (So.), Cedarville

Mackenzie Schulz (Jr.), Findlay

Riley Neal (Sr.), Kentucky Wesleyan

Emma Bruwer (So.), Kentucky Wesleyan

Elena Oliver (Jr.), Malone

Lexie Bowers (Jr.), Northwood

Jenna Schackleford (Jr.), Ohio Dominican

Megan Campbell (So.), Tiffin

Sydney Ludvigsen (Jr.), Walsh

What Does The 2026-27 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll Look Like?

Northwood, the reigning G-MAC champion, was selected as the preseason favorite for the 2026-27 G-MAC women’s basketball season, securing 141 total points and 10 of the 13 first-place votes. Ashland took the remaining three first-place votes and 126 points for second place in the poll.

Northwood - 141 (10)
Ashland - 126 (3)
Walsh - 123
Thomas More - 110
Findlay - 91
Hillsdale - 88
Kentucky Wesleyan - 86
Malone - 77
Cedarville - 53
Ohio Dominican - 47
Tiffin - 34
Lake Erie - 21
Ursuline - 17

Who Are Notable Players To Watch During The 2026-27 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Season?

The G-MAC returns several key players to rosters in the 2026-27 women’s hoops season.

Northwood’s Lea Holmes (RS Jr, C) will anchor the frontcourt for the TimberWolves. Last season, she averaged 17.0 points and 7.1 rebounds across 34 games. She is joined by Lexie Bowers (Sr, G), who started in all 34 games as a junior and averaged 8.2 points per game and ranked sixth in the conference in three-points scored per game, sinking 64 total.

Ashland brings back 2025-26 Great Midwest Freshman of the Year Jenna Slates. The First-Team All-G-MAC and Second-Team D2CCA All-Midwest Region honoree averaged 16.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Alongside Slates is Ashley Mullet (Jr, G), who led the Eagles in three-pointers (47), free-throw percentage (.821) and assists (86).

Kiley Dyrlund (Gr, F) and Sydney Ludvigsen (Sr, G) return for Walsh. Dyrlund averaged 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, earning her First-Team All-G-MAC and D2CCA First-Team All-Region honors. Lugvigsen was named Second-Team All-G-MAC after averaging 11.2 points per game and shooting 39% outside the arc.

Thomas More’s Izzy Rotert (RS Jr, F) returns for the Saints. A defensive force, Rotert averaged 9.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and led the league with 1.9 blocks per game.

When Is The 2027 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament?

The 2027 G-MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament will begin on Tuesday, March 2, 2027. It will feature eight teams that have earned an invitation based on winning percentage. The quarterfinal round will take place on day one with four games, hosted by the higher seed. Winners will advance to the semifinal round on Friday, March 5, hosted by the highest remaining seed. The remaining two teams will compete on Saturday, March 7, for the 2027 G-MAC Championship title. The championship team will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional.

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