ABILENE, Texas- The Howard Payne University women's basketball team will open the 2026-27 season with an exhibition game against the Abilene Christian University Wildcats in the Moody Coliseum at 6:00 PM. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+
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Last season, the Lady Jackets went 13-14 and reached the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship in head coach Rodney Gee's first season.
Howard Payne returns several key contributors from last season's roster, including senior guard Madison Clay, junior guard Hope Hermesmeyer and sophomore center Caitlyn Parsons. Clay played four games last season prior to taking a medical redshirt. In the 2024-25 season, Clay was named to the ASC Third-Team All-Conference after starting 26 games and averaging 10.8 ppg and 3 rbpg, while shooting 32% from three.
Hermesmeyer transferred to HPU from Hardin-Simmons prior to the start of last season and was named to the ASC All-Tournament Team and ASC Second-Team All-Conference after scoring 102 points in her final six games.
Parsons grabbed 263 rebounds during her freshman campaign, which is sixth most in Howard Payne history for a single season. She also scored 12 points per game and was named ASC Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the ASC First Team All-Conference.
The Lady Jackets also entered the transfer portal to grab a couple key additions that hope to contribute to more success this season. Senior guard Jerzie Bryant transferred to Howard Payne from Oklahoma City University, where she averaged 9.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game during her junior season. Senior guard Racie Decker comes to the Lady Jackets from McMurry University where she was a key piece for the War Hawks by appearing in 30 games over the course of her career.
Abilene Christian's record last campaign was 24-11, and they were able to make it to the "Super 16" in the WNIT. The Wildcats return 10 players from last season and were picked to finish a top of the United Athletic Conference in its preseason poll.
Up Next: The Howard Payne University women's basketball team will travel west for next game, which will be against Pacific Lutheran University in the Olson Gymnasium in Tacoma, Washington on Sunday, November 8, at 3:00 PM.
