WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth Women's Basketball unveiled its 2026-27 slate Monday with the Hawks playing 18 games at home on the confines of Dr. Marilyn A McNeil Arena at Monmouth University.
 
The Hawks were 11-5 at home last season as they finished 21-12 overall, surpassing 20-plus wins for just the seventh time in program history. Among their 14 non-conference opponents, four earned a spot in the WNIT with three making an NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
"We are very excited about our non-conference schedule," said Hawks head coach Cait Wetmore. "We've got some exciting in-state matchups as well as two Big-10 games on the slate. We will have the opportunity to face very different styles of play from week to week which will serve as great preparation for CAA play in January."
 
Monmouth starts the season with an exhibition game against Rider Oct. 21 before opening its regular season at home against Binghamton at 6 p.m. The Hawks and Bearcats faced each other just one other time in its history with Monmouth earning the victory, 60-51 during the 2010-11 season.
 
Lehigh visits Dr. Marilyn A McNeil Arena Friday, Nov. 6 for a 6 p.m. tip for a re-match of last year's opening round of the WNIT where the Hawks bested the Mountain Hawks, 72-62. Monmouth then hits the road for the first time on the year, traveling up to Piscataway, New Jersey to face one of its two Big 10 opponents in Rutgers. The Hawks are 0-6 against the Scarlett Knights with Rutgers winning their last matchup in a tight game, 56-51 in 2023.
 
Monmouth then has a three-game home stint, hosting NJCAA's Bryant & Stratton, Marist College and University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 13, 17 and 21, respectively. UMES went 20-15 last season and like the Hawks, made a second-round appearance in the WNIT.
 
The team then faces their second Big 10 opponent in the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland Nov. 24. The Hawks will look for their first win over the Terps, as they are 0-4 in the all-time matchup with the two teams last playing in 2010. Maryland went 24-9 last season and 11-7 in the Big 10, making a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament after earning an at-large bid following a loss to Oregon in the Big 10 Tournament.
 
The Saturday following Thanksgiving, Monmouth hosts FDU on Dr. Marilyn A McNeil Arena at 2 p.m. FDU finished 30-5, including a perfect 18-0 in the NEC. The Knights won the NEC Tournament a year ago to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks own the advantage in the matchup, coming out on top in the last game 46-23, but the two teams haven't tipped off since 2017.
 
The Hawks begin December with three straight away games including NJIT Dec. 2, Howard Dec. 6 and Coppin State Dec. 11. Monmouth then concludes the calendar year at home, hosting Georgian Court Dec. 15 at 11:30 a.m., Cornell Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and Cheyney State Dec. 28 at 5 p.m.
 
NJIT also was a WNIT participant, finishing last season 19-13 and 9-7 in the America East where it made a quarterfinal round appearance. Howard went 26-8 a year ago and 13-1 in the MEAC in the regular season, before claiming the postseason championship title to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Click here to view the full 2026-27 Hawks Women's Basketball schedule.
 
To purchase home single game tickets, click here.

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