Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball opens the 2026-27 regular season on Monday night with the first of three straight home games as the Catamounts host the Carolina University Bruins on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m. The Catamounts open the year with four of their first five games played at home.
Monday's season opener will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live audio from the Catamount Sports Network beginning at 5:45 pm, live game stats, as well as tickets available through CatamountSports.com.
Monday's Season-Opening Matchup:
Western Carolina (0-0) vs. Carolina University (0-0)
Mon., Nov. 2, 2026 | Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C. | 6 p.m.
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Top Catamount Returners:
Western Carolina returns six players from last year's roster, though just four saw extensive playing time. Ally Hollifield returns after leading the Catamounts in most all major statistical categories last season, including a team-best 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
Hollifield's role should change this year, expected to move off the primary point guard role after gaining valuable experience as the floor general last season. She's flanked in the backcourt by second-year guard Tina Bowers, a prolific prep scorer who has improved within her role entering her sophomore season. Bowers averaged just under five points per game last season.
Justice Zimmerman looks to make a jump in the low-block for the Catamounts entering her second season. The Chapel Hill product played in 29 games as a true freshman, contributing 61 points and 72 rebounds.
WCU also returns posts Riley Price, who played in 14 games last year, and the 6-4 Ellie Fyans, who was redshirted ahead of the NCAA's alteration to the age-based academic year modeling. Guard Ellie Richardson returns after being sidelined just three games into her freshman season last year, expected to take on a larger role running the point. Richardson's loss, which came after having scored 10 points at Campbell last fall, necessitated the movement of Hollifield to the point.
New Cats on The Block:
Third-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis and his staff worked hard to reload the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season, with six new Catamounts expected to compete in the nonconference campaign. The roster additions include two upperclassmen transfers and four freshmen, three from the state of North Carolina.
UNC Wilmington transfer Kate Hollifield and Chicago State transfer Kayla Mount bring experience to a youthful Catamount roster. A perimeter threat, Hollifield connected on 35% of her 3-pointers for the Seahawks, while Mount collected over 130 rebounds while shooting 51% from the floor for the Cougars.
The Catamounts also added four freshman, two who were high school teammates. Freshmen Camri Hobbs (Charlotte) and My'Asia Young (Charlotte) teamed at Mallard Creek High, and are joined by Hannah Moss (Charlotte / Butler HS) and Nashville, Tenn., product Ava Jarrett.
Full Court Press:
Carolina University, located in Winston-Salem, N.C., marks the first of four non-NCAA Division I opponents for the Catamounts this season. The two programs meet for the first time in series history. The Bruins enter WCU's season-opener 0-1 on the season, after most recently falling 82-75 to the Montreat Cavaliers.
The 18-player roster includes six seniors, eight juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen, with international flavor from four countries – El Salvador, Colombia, Brazil, and Spain. The Bruins boast four post players over 6-foot and a pair of upperclassmen guards in the backcourt.
A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Continental Athletic Association (CAC), the Bruins went 7-19 a year ago, including a 2-11 record on the road. They played four exhibitions against NCAA D-I opponents last season, with an average margin of defeat of 61.7 points (L, 100-43 vs. Campbell; L, 97-37 vs. Queens; L, 82-31 vs. Appalachian State; and L, 114-35 vs. UNCG).
In addition to Monday's match-up against the Catamounts, the Bruins face six NCAA opponents this season. Carolina University will also visit Lipscomb, Queens, NC Central, UNCG, and Appalachian State.
About Carolina University:
Founded following World War II with a mission to educate returning veterans for Christian ministry, the Piedmont Bible Institute later became known as Piedmont International University. Through a series of mergers with Christian colleges and seminaries, including Tennessee Temple University and John Wesley University, Carolina University took its current name in June 2020, tying together histories of seven institutions under one name.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU continues its three-game homestand to open 2026-27, next hosting the West Florida Argonauts on Thursday, Nov. 5, before welcoming the Johnson University (Tenn.) Royals on Nov. 8. Tip-off against the newest member of the NCAA Division I ranks, West Florida, is scheduled for 6 p.m., while the Catamounts and Royals are slated for a 2 p.m. start.
WCU then hits the road for the first time, traveling to Asheville on Nov. 12, to face the UNC Asheville Bulldogs before returning home to host the Virginia University of Lynchburg Dragons on Nov. 15.
Season tickets for the home portion of the 2026-27 Catamount men's and women's basketball seasons are on sale now through the first-floor Ramsey Center Ticket Office, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and online at CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Options include tickets for men's or women's and an "all-hoops" package for every home game in the Ramsey Center for both squads. Single-game tickets for both squads are also on sale.
