• The Texas Southern women's basketball team is back in action for a conference home match up against Arkansas Pine-Bluff at 2 pm.
• TSU returns two starters — Daeja Holmes and Aaliyah Henderson — along with one letterwinner, Maci Quiller, from last season while welcoming nine newcomers to the roster.
•Since their first meeting in 2012, Texas Southern has controlled the series with 20 wins to UAPB's 8, highlighted by an 8‑game win streak from 2013–2016 and several dominant performances, including a 77–46 win in 2020. Arkansas‑Pine Bluff had early success with two straight wins in 2017, but TSU has since regained control, winning six of the last ten and sweeping the 2024–25 season series; with close contests like the 78–77 TSU win in 2020 and UAPB's 81–62 upset in 2024.
• Head Coach Vernette Skeete enters her fourth season at TSU. Last year, she guided the Tigers to a 14–4 SWAC record, finishing tied for second place and reaching the SWAC Tournament semifinals, a dramatic turnaround from her first two seasons (9–49 overall).
• Under Skeete, TSU earned its first‑ever postseason appearance, hosting a historic WNIT game at TSU and advancing to the second round before falling to Louisiana Tech.
• Daeja Holmes leading the Tiger offense, averaging 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game across 14 outings this season.
Aaliyah Henderson is contributing 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
These experienced guards anchor TSU's offense and leadership unit.
• Maci Quiller, the lone returning letterwinner, adds 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Taliyah Logwood (10.4 ppg) and Lauren Perry (6.8 ppg) bolster bench production.
• Coach Erica Leak was named the new head women's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Thursday. Coach Leak becomes the 10th head coach in program history. A 2005 WNBA Draftee, Coach Leak brings elite playing experience to the Golden Lions. Prior to taking over at UAPB, Coach Leak led West Memphis High School to the state finals for the first time since 2003, earning Arkansas High School Coach of the Year honors in 2023. She spent four years at the helm of the 5A East powerhouse program.
• TSU was picked to finish fourth in the SWAC Preseason Poll.
• UAPB was picked to finish 11th in the SWAC Preseason Poll.
