SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The 2026-27 Lady Panther season tips off on Nov. 13 against Fort Hays State for the first of two games in the GLVC/MIAA Crossover before playing Pittsburg State on Nov. 14 to close out the crossover.
The field for the opening weekend crossover will consist of Drury and Southwest Baptist representing the GLVC, with Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State representing the MIAA. Southwest Baptist, Fort Hays State, and Pittsburg State have each played one game already this season, with Fort Hays State picking up the lone win. Friday will be Drury's season opener.
Fans may follow the action through the GLVC Sports Network (subscription required), where games will be streamed live throughout the regular season. For the 2026-27 academic year, viewing access to GLVC regular season and postseason broadcasts will be available via monthly subscription ($32) or annual subscription ($145). Single-event access can also be purchased for $15. Drury students can receive 10 percent off any pass using their university email and code GLVC@EDU27. All Drury Lady Panthers games will also have free live audio coverage on DU All-Access.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE
- Drury and Fort Hays State will be playing for the second time ever.
- The Lady Panthers hold a 1-0 record over the Tigers.
- The only meeting between the programs was the season opener of the 2001-02 season in Warrensburg, a 64-48 Drury victory.
SERIES HISTORY VS. PITTSBURG STATE
- Drury and Pittsburg State will meet for the seventh time in series history.
- The Lady Panthers hold a 4-2 record against the Gorillas all-time.
- While in Springfield, Drury is 3-2 in the series.
- The two teams have not played since 2014 as part of the annual Drury Thanksgiving Classic, a 78-73 Pittsburg State win.
WEEKEND STORYLINES
- Drury is 21-5 in season openers in program history, dropping its last two openers.
- Friday will be the start of the Lady Panthers' 27th season in program history.
- Drury enters the season in search of its 14th consecutive 20-win season.
- The Lady Panthers return 10 players from last year's squad, including their entire starting five.
- There are seven newcomers on the 2026-27 iteration of the Drury Lady Panthers, six freshmen and one transfer.
- Kaci Bailey enters her fourth season at the helm of the Lady Panthers, posting a 68-22 record across her first three seasons.
- Sara Mendel, Rhi Gibbons, and Kaylee King all return to Springfield after all-GLVC campaigns last season.
- There were three programs in the GLVC last season that earned three all-conference selections: Drury, Lewis, and Missouri-St. Louis. The Lady Panthers are the only team to return all three selections in Mendel, Gibbons, and King.
- The Lady Panthers were picked to finish third in the GLVC Coaches' Preseason Poll behind Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis.
- The Lady Panthers bring back 81 percent of their minutes played and 85 percent of their scoring from a squad that averaged 73.0 points per game last season.
- Leading the returning group is senior forward Sara Mendel, who averaged a team-high 16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds while leading the nation in shooting percentage at 67.1 percent.
- Mendel was one of four Lady Panthers to average at least seven points per game, joined by Rhi Gibbons (14.5), Kaylee King (10.9), and Jazz Gray (7.7). The quartet combined to score 1,426 points last season, accounting for more than 67 percent of the team's offense.
- In June, Kaci Bailey inked a contract extension through the 2029-30 season.
- Kaci Bailey enters the season 10 wins away from reaching the 100-career-win mark.
- Rhi Gibbons enters her fifth year with 921 points, on pace to become the 24th Lady Panther in program history to reach the 1,000-career-point mark.
- Sara Mendel enters her senior season with 862 points, 628 rebounds, and 73 blocks.
- Mendel ranks seventh in program history in career rebounds, tied for second in career blocks, first in career field-goal percentage, and third in career double-doubles.
- Fort Hays State enters the weekend with a 1-0 record after opening the season with a 58-52 victory over Tabor.
- The Tigers have posted 15 consecutive 20-win seasons, the longest active streak in NCAA Division II.
- The Tigers have won 28 straight regular-season non-conference games, including 25 under head coach Talia Kahrs.
- Pittsburg State enters the weekend with an 0-1 record after falling to Southwestern Oklahoma State, 75-49. The Gorillas will open the weekend against Southwest Baptist.
- The Gorillas finished last season with an 18-11 record, losing their final six games of the season, bringing their current losing streak to seven.
- Pittsburg State was voted to finish sixth in the MIAA Coaches Poll, while Fort Hays State was voted to finish second.
CROSSOVER SCHEDULE
Nov. 13
5:45 pm – Fort Hays State vs. Drury
7:45 pm – Southwest Baptist vs. Pittsburg State
Nov. 14
5:45 pm – Southwest Baptist vs. Fort Hays State
7:45 pm – Pittsburg State vs. Drury
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the crossover, the Lady Panthers host Arkansas-Fort Smith for the Hiland Dairy Kids Day on Nov. 18 with an 11 a.m. tipoff.
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