GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport University women's basketball team opens the 2025–26 season on the road in Ohio, continuing familiar matchups to start the year. The Panthers will travel to North Canton to face Walsh on Friday, Nov. 14, with tip-off set for 3:00 PM, marking the third straight season the teams have met early in the schedule. Davenport will then head southwest to Columbus to take on Ohio Dominican on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 5:00 PM, marking the second consecutive year they've faced the Panthers in non-conference, in-region play.

DU recently wrapped up its exhibition slate with a contest at Central Michigan, following earlier tune-ups against Oakland University and The University of Olivet. The Panthers now shift their focus to a five-game non-conference stretch before opening GLIAC play on Dec. 4 at home against Saginaw Valley State.

In the upcoming season, several new faces will look to make their way into the starting lineup for DU. Hannah Schroeder and Ellie Toney return for their final seasons joined by redshirt sophomore Kayla Covington in the post, while Purdue-Fort Wayne transfers Maddie Geers and Reese Polega look to make their first appearances in Panther red, white and black.

Last season, Schroeder averaged a team-high 32.1 minutes per game, contributing 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, ranking second on the team with 51 assists. Toney had a standout junior year in the GLIAC, ranking fourth in defensive rebounding (4.1 per game), eighth in scoring (10.3 PPG), eighth in minutes played (26.9 per game) and ninth in total rebounding (5.4 per game). She was also tied for 11th in points per game (13.4) in the conference. Covington logged 12.4 minutes per game last year in her first season at DU. She shot 48.1 percent from the floor and averaged 2.7 rebounds per game. Geers and Polega, bring valuable experience as young sophomores and are expected to play key roles in leading the team this season.

These probable starters look to establish early chemistry and set the tone for the Panthers' opening weekend.

Scouting the Opponents
Walsh 

• The Cavaliers were picked 10th out of 13 teams in the GMAC Preseason Poll, earning 64 points.
• Walsh returns seven players from last season, including Mallory Oddo (junior, 262 points, 9.7 PPG, 183 rebounds, 20 blocks) and Emme Dretke (senior, 217 points, 7.8 PPG, .389 3-point shooting, 123 rebounds, 28 blocks), and adds eight newcomers to the roster.
• The program is led by first-year head coach Johnny Montello, with first-year assistant coach Ty Newkirk.
• Historically, Davenport leads the series 2-1 with Walsh. The teams met in consecutive seasons, with the Panthers hosting and winning 65-61 in 2023 before falling 65-50 in 2024.

Ohio Dominican 

• The ODU Panthers were picked ninth out of 13 teams in the G-MAC Preseason Poll, earning 69 points in the rankings. Ohio Dominican returns eight players from last year's squad and adds seven newcomers to the roster.
• The program is led by second-year head coach Brianna Sims, who guided the team to a 12–16 record in her first season. ODU also welcomes first-year assistant coach Macy Blankenship, a former volunteer with the program.
• Last season, the Panthers went 12–16 overall and 7–11 in G-MAC play, averaging 67.4 points per game, hitting 5.8 three-pointers per game and shooting 78 percent from the free-throw line. They averaged 36.1 rebounds per game (–2.3 margin), 11.9 assists against 15.2 turnovers (0.8 assist/turnover ratio), along with 8.8 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
• Entering her senior year, guard Sarah Ochs totaled 384 points last season (13.7 PPG), with 114 rebounds, 75 assists and 50 steals.
• Historically, this is ODU's second matchup against DU. Their last meeting came in the 2024–25 season, when Davenport hosted ODU and fell 53–46.