Women’s Basketball to visit Georgia Southern for MAC-SBC Challenge
7/1/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Chippewas open the 2025-26 campaign Nov. 2 in Statesboro, Ga.
CLEVELAND — Central Michigan Women's Basketball will travel to Georgia Southern Nov. 3 for its season-opener, as part of the Mid-American Conference-Sun Belt Conference Challenge, the two leagues announced Tuesday. The game will be televised on an ESPN platform.
The Chippewas and Eagles will meet for the first time in November, the third time the MAC-SBC Challenge has matched CMU with a first-time opponent (South Alabama, Louisiana in 2023-24) in five contests. Last season, the Chippewas defeated former MAC foe Marshall, 73-68, but split the challenge with a season-opening loss, 65-62, to Coastal Carolina.
CMU returned to the Mid-American Conference Championship tournament for the first time since 2021 in the second season under Coach Haynie. The Chippewas improved by eight wins overall, five in league play from the first to second year, finishing at 14-17 (9-9 MAC).
Georgia Southern finished the 2024-25 regular season with a mirrored 14-17 record, 6-12 in the Sun Belt, under first-year Head Coach Hana Haden, earning the No. 12 seed in the 2025 Sun Belt tournament. The Eagles defeated No. 13 Southern Miss, No. 9 Louisiana-Monroe before falling to No. 8 Georgia State.
Beginning its third season in 2025-26, The MAC-SBC Challenge—a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball—begins during the opening week of the 2025-26 season in November as 12 Mid-American Conference (MAC) women's basketball programs travel to 12 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) teams, while the 12 MAC men's basketball programs host 12 SBC teams.
Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups. Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be broadcast on an ESPN platform.
2025-26 MAC-SBC CHALLENGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MATCHUPS
Monday, Nov. 3
Ball State at Arkansas State
Toledo at Troy
Buffalo at Marshall
Kent State at James Madison
Miami (OH) at Coastal Carolina
Bowling Green at Louisiana
Central Michigan at Georgia Southern
Western Michigan at Appalachian State
Northern Illinois at Southern Miss
Akron at South Alabama
Ohio at Texas State
Eastern Michigan at Louisiana-Monroe
Massachusetts at Old Dominion
Saturday, Feb. 7
SBC teams at MAC teams (announced in January)
The Chippewas and Eagles will meet for the first time in November, the third time the MAC-SBC Challenge has matched CMU with a first-time opponent (South Alabama, Louisiana in 2023-24) in five contests. Last season, the Chippewas defeated former MAC foe Marshall, 73-68, but split the challenge with a season-opening loss, 65-62, to Coastal Carolina.
CMU returned to the Mid-American Conference Championship tournament for the first time since 2021 in the second season under Coach Haynie. The Chippewas improved by eight wins overall, five in league play from the first to second year, finishing at 14-17 (9-9 MAC).
Georgia Southern finished the 2024-25 regular season with a mirrored 14-17 record, 6-12 in the Sun Belt, under first-year Head Coach Hana Haden, earning the No. 12 seed in the 2025 Sun Belt tournament. The Eagles defeated No. 13 Southern Miss, No. 9 Louisiana-Monroe before falling to No. 8 Georgia State.
Beginning its third season in 2025-26, The MAC-SBC Challenge—a scheduling alliance in the sports of men's and women's basketball—begins during the opening week of the 2025-26 season in November as 12 Mid-American Conference (MAC) women's basketball programs travel to 12 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) teams, while the 12 MAC men's basketball programs host 12 SBC teams.
Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests are considered in determining the matchups. Each MAC-SBC Challenge game will be broadcast on an ESPN platform.
2025-26 MAC-SBC CHALLENGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL MATCHUPS
Monday, Nov. 3
Ball State at Arkansas State
Toledo at Troy
Buffalo at Marshall
Kent State at James Madison
Miami (OH) at Coastal Carolina
Bowling Green at Louisiana
Central Michigan at Georgia Southern
Western Michigan at Appalachian State
Northern Illinois at Southern Miss
Akron at South Alabama
Ohio at Texas State
Eastern Michigan at Louisiana-Monroe
Massachusetts at Old Dominion
Saturday, Feb. 7
SBC teams at MAC teams (announced in January)
WBB Annual Golf Outing
Friday, September 12
WBB Practice
Friday, July 04
MAC WBB Tournament Press Conference
Wednesday, March 12
Video Podcast: Amy Folan Connection-Women's Basketball March Madness and the Growth of the Game
Wednesday, March 12