Women's Basketball | 8/28/2026 10:14:00 AM

ERIE, Pa. – Challenging schedules have become a staple for the Gannon women's basketball program, and long-time head coach Cleve Wright has once again put together a strong slate for the Golden Knights in 2026-27.

Gannon enters the 2026-27 campaign following another successful season in which it finished 29-5 overall and 18-2 in PSAC play. The Golden Knights finished as the PSAC runner-up before advancing to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals, where their season came to an end. Gannon closed the season ranked No. 8 nationally.

Gannon's schedule will take the Golden Knights from Erie to Kentucky and Las Vegas while featuring a challenging mix of non-conference and PSAC opponents. The Golden Knights will play 13 games at the Highmark Events Center, including the Atlantic Region Challenge, while also competing in the D2 CCA Tip-Off Classic and D2 Jackpot Classic.

"We are excited for the season!" Wright said. "The schedule will be very challenging, and we must be ready every time we step on the floor. The quality of our non-conference opponents should make our overall schedule one of the toughest in the country. We are excited for our trips to Kentucky and to Las Vegas. We will use those trips to get better as a team and closer as teammates."

The regular season officially gets underway when Gannon travels to Owensboro, Kentucky, for the D2 CCA Tip-Off Classic, hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan. This marks the fourth straight year the Golden Knights have participated in the prestigious season-opening tournament.

The Golden Knights open the 2026-27 campaign against Missouri Western on Friday, Nov. 6 at 4:15 p.m. CST (5:15 p.m. EST) before facing Harding on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. EST). Harding is coming off an appearance in the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament, ending the year at 24-7.

Gannon returns to Erie the following weekend to host the Atlantic Region Challenge at the Highmark Events Center on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14. The Golden Knights face Glenville State in the opener on Friday at 11 a.m. before taking on Ohio Dominican on Saturday at 1 p.m. Glenville State was the MEC runners-up a year ago, reaching the NCAA Atlantic Regional and finishing at 24-7.

The homestand continues on Wednesday, Nov. 18 when Daemen visits the Highmark Events Center for a 6 p.m. tip-off. The Pioneers continue the trend of strong non-conference opponents after finishing at 26-4, winning the East Coast Conference crown and reaching the Sweet 16.

Gannon will then head west over Thanksgiving weekend for the D2 Jackpot Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights face Colorado Mesa on Friday, Nov. 27 before taking on Vanguard on Saturday, Nov. 28. Both contests are scheduled for 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST).

Colorado Mesa is not only the fourth 20-win opponent in the first six games but a team that finished with a glossy 37-2 ledger a year ago.

The Mavericks won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship, followed by the South Central Regional and defeated Minnesota-Duluth in the national quarterfinals before losing to Indiana (Pa.) in the semifinals.

Make it five 20-win foes and NCAA Tournament teams the next day when the Golden Knights take on Vanguard. The 25-6 Lions won the PacWest Tournament and reached the semifinals of the West Regional.

December brings the start of PSAC crossover action, with Gannon opening conference play with back-to-back games at the Highmark Events Center. Kutztown (19-10) visits Erie on Friday, Dec. 4 for a 3 p.m. contest before West Chester comes to town on Saturday, Dec. 5 for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

The Golden Knights step back out of conference play on Saturday, Dec. 12 with a trip to Detroit, Michigan, to face Wayne State at 1 p.m. The Warriors are yet another NCAA tourney team, reaching the Midwest Regional semifinals to finish at 24-8.

Gannon returns to the Highmark Events Center on Tuesday, Dec. 15 to host Bloomsburg at 3 p.m. before heading east for its final two games before the holiday break.

The Golden Knights play at Mansfield on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m. before facing new PSAC member Lackawanna on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1 p.m.

The Golden Knights welcome the New Year on the road, traveling to East Stroudsburg on Saturday, Jan. 2 for a 1 p.m. contest before turning their attention to PSAC West play.

Western Division action begins with back-to-back road games. Gannon opens at Seton Hill (22-9) on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, Jan. 9 for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

Gannon then returns to the Highmark Events Center for a pair of games, hosting California (Pa.) on Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Edinboro (19-14) on Thursday, Jan. 14. Both contests are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

The Golden Knights will see a new look to the Western Division in 2026-27 with Lock Haven joining the PSAC West. Gannon makes its first divisional trip to Lock Haven on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 1 p.m.

The Bald Eagles were the Eastern Division champions a year ago and finished at 22-6.  The Golden Knights then have a week between games before returning to action at Clarion on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m.

Gannon returns home to host Slippery Rock on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Indiana (Pa.) on Thursday, Jan. 28 for another 5:30 p.m. contest. The IUP matchup renews a spirited rivalry with the Crimson Hawks. 

A year ago each won on the others' homecourt before IUP won the tiebreaker with a narrow victory in the PSAC Championship Game. The Crimson Hawks went on to finish as the Division II national runners-up at 31-4. 

The month concludes at the Highmark Events Center with Pitt-Johnstown visiting on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. to start the second half of PSAC West action.

February dawns with a return meeting against Seton Hill on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at the Highmark Events Center for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
Gannon follows with back-to-back road games, traveling to California (Pa.) on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. and Edinboro on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
The Golden Knights host Lock Haven on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. before a week away from competition.

Three games remain following the break, with two taking place at the Highmark Events Center. Clarion visits on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. before IUP comes to Erie for the regular-season home finale on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m.

The Golden Knights wrap up the 2026-27 regular season on Saturday, Feb. 27 with a 1 p.m. contest at Slippery Rock.

The 2027 PSAC Tournament gets underway on Monday, March 1 with first-round games. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, with the highest remaining Western Division seed earning the right to host the PSAC Final Four.

The semifinals will take place on Saturday, March 6 with the PSAC champion determined on Sunday, March 7.

The NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional is scheduled for March 13, 14 and 16 at a campus site. The regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The national quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, followed by the national semifinals on Thursday, March 25 and the NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday, March 27.