CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team is set to begin the 2026-27 season. The season marks year two for Head Coach Madeline Jensen leading the Spartans as the team looks forward to another competitive year in the American Rivers Conference.
The Spartans return two starters from last season: Junior Lilly Craig started all 25 games, averaging 8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, led the team with 18 blocks, and had 28 assists and 17 steals. Senior Avery Green led the team in assists with 3.6 per game and in steals with 36 total. Green also averaged 6.5 points per game.
Junior Grace Brumley led the team in 3-pointers last year, scoring 30 shots from deep. Brumley averaged nine points and four rebounds per game last season. Graduate Student Kaitlyn Powell returns to the court this season after sitting out with an injury in 2025. In the 2024 season, Powell played in all 25 games and averaged 4.3 points per game.
The Spartans will begin their season on Friday, November 6, at the Wartburg Tip-Off Tournament in Waverly, Iowa, at Levick Arena. They will play Concordia College at 5:00 p.m. (Minn.) that Friday and, the next day, Saturday, November 7, will face Carleton College (Minn.) at 1:00 p.m. Conference play will start on Wednesday, January 6, at home against Wartburg.
The third annual University of Dubuque Paxton's Pack Classic will take place shortly after Christmas, with the Spartans playing two games against Grinnell (Dec. 30) and Edgewood College (Wis.) (Dec. 31).
The 2027 American Rivers Conference Women's Basketball tournament will be held on February 23 (First Round), February 25 (Semifinals), and February 27 (Championship Game). The winner of the tournament will earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2027 NCAA Division III Women's basketball tournament that will be held in March.
For more information regarding the University of Dubuque women's basketball team please visit https://udspartans.com/sports/womens-basketball for all the latest on news, schedules, rosters, etc.
A-R-C Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (first place votes)
1. Wartburg – 48 (6)
2. Coe – 54 (2)
3. Buena Vista – 37
4. Simpson – 32
5. Central – 21
6. Nebraska Wesleyan – 20
7. Loras – 14
8. University of Dubuque – 9
