Doug Pfeiler

Women's Basketball 10/29/2026 1:30:00 PM Clayton Messerle, Assistant Athletic Director

Women’s Basketball Season Preview – Warriors Eye Back-to-Back Title Runs

SALEM, Ore. – One year after orchestrating one of the most successful seasons in recent program history, the Kylie Frizell-led Warriors enter the 2026-27 campaign with a new challenge ahead of them: proving last season was only the beginning. After capturing a share of the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season championship, winning the CCC Tournament title on their home court, and advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in six years, Corban enters the new season with elevated expectations and a roster built to remain among the conference's elite.

"One of the first things we talked about in our kickoff meeting earlier this school year was building off of last season while also at the same time starting fresh in forming this year's group," began Frizell when asked to discuss the mentality entering the upcoming regular season. "We are not simply the defending conference champions; we are in attack mode. We are hungry for more and will continue to build a program of excellence through relentless pursuit. When I think about this new team, I can still see that fast tempo offense that we excelled with last year, but we will certainly look new in a lot of fun and exciting ways. I'm expecting a lot of new, younger student-athletes to really step up and take people by surprise in their level of attentiveness and dedication to our core values of tenacity, trust, and being a good teammate. It's been really cool so far seeing how these new additions and returners have learned to adapt with each other on the court, and we can't wait to officially get started this weekend in Arizona."

The Warriors finished 2025-26 with a 26-6 overall record and a 16-4 mark in CCC play while ending the year ranked No. 20 nationally. Along the way, Corban led the conference in scoring offense (80.1 points per game), three-pointers made (306), and three-point percentage (.347), establishing itself as one of the NAIA's most dangerous offensive teams.

While the Warriors must replace several key contributors from last year's championship squad, the foundation remains intact thanks to the return of one of the nation's premier guards, experienced upperclassmen leadership, and a recruiting class that adds both collegiate experience and long-term potential.

The rapid ascent of Corban Women's Basketball under Frizell has transformed the program into a legitimate CCC contender. In just her second season at the helm, Frizell guided the Warriors to a share of their first ever CCC regular-season championship, claimed the program's fourth conference tournament title, and earned CCC Co-Coach of the Year honors.

The challenge now shifts from chasing contenders to becoming the hunted.

Corban returns nine players from last year's championship roster while welcoming five newcomers into the fold. Although only two starters return, several key reserves who played significant roles in the Warriors' success are positioned for expanded responsibilities. The combination provides a blend of continuity and opportunity that should keep the program firmly within the conference title conversation.

Season Schedule/Key Matchups

The Warriors open official competition with a demanding Arizona road trip against Benedictine University Mesa and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this upcoming weekend in Mesa and Prescott, respectively. The Dubs will then host their annual Corban Classic, which will feature Simpson University and Lewis & Clark College as opponents before entering conference play in early December.

The CCC slate once again presents numerous challenges. Home matchups against perennial contenders Eastern Oregon University and The College of Idaho highlight the December schedule, while a difficult January road swing to Lewis-Clark State College, Oregon Tech, and Southern Oregon University could play a major role in shaping the conference standings.

The regular season concludes with perhaps the most anticipated home weekend of the year when Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech visit Salem on February 19th and 20th, contests that could once again carry championship implications heading into postseason play.

Conference Outlook

If last season proved anything about the CCC, it's that there is little separating the league's elite programs. With five teams still mathematically alive for the conference championship entering the final weekend of the regular season in 2025-26, the race for the CCC crown was among the closest and most competitive in recent memory.

Conference coaches expect more of the same in 2026-27.

The 2026-27 preseason poll projects another tightly contested battle at the top, with just seven points separating first-place College of Idaho from third-place Corban. The Yotes were selected as the preseason favorite with 107 points and five first-place votes, while Oregon Tech narrowly edged the Warriors for second with 101 points and two first-place votes. Corban garnered 100 points and three first-place votes, highlighting how little separates the conference's upper echelon entering the season.

Behind the top three, LC State (94 points) and Eastern Oregon (89 points) round out a formidable group of contenders capable of making noise throughout the conference schedule. Southern Oregon, a perennial postseason threat, was selected sixth, further emphasizing the depth of a league that annually ranks among the nation's strongest NAIA conferences.

For Corban, the preseason ranking represents both respect and motivation. Despite winning both conference titles and advancing to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, Corban finds itself projected behind both the Yotes and Lady Owls entering the new campaign, with both programs projected to return a healthy percentage of their starting lineups from 2025-26.

Based on both last year's results and the razor-thin margins reflected in the preseason poll, another dramatic race for the CCC title appears inevitable.

Roster Composition

Any discussion of the 2026-27 Warriors begins with returning NAIA Second Team All-American and First Team All-CCC guard Jersey Huerta.

The Kent, Washington native was one of the nation's most dynamic offensive players a season ago, averaging 18.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Huerta led the Warriors in scoring, assists, and steals while playing more than 32 minutes per contest. Her ability to create offense from virtually anywhere on the floor makes her one of the CCC's premier returning players and an early candidate to once again contend for conference Player of the Year honors.

Joining Huerta as the two returning starters from last season is senior guard Tayla Yost, who started 31 of 32 contests last season and averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Yost's veteran leadership and two-way consistency will be critical as the Warriors navigate another championship pursuit.

One of the biggest additions to this year's roster may actually be a familiar face to Warrior Nation supporters. Redshirt junior guard Lizzy Bennett returns after missing the entirety of the 2025-26 season because of injury. In her most recent campaign, Bennett averaged 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc across 28 starts. Her return provides another experienced scoring threat capable of stretching opposing defenses as she looks to build upon her All-Conference honor from her sophomore season.

Additional perimeter depth comes from junior guards Kylie Ihrig and Nina Peterson, along with sophomore guard Izzy McCauley. The trio showcased their shooting abilities a season prior, with Peterson leading the pack at 41.9% from beyond the arc, followed closely behind by McCauley (35.6%) and Ihrig (32.4%). Meanwhile, the return of sophomore forwards Lucy Nyborg and Haley Ferry will prove to be immediately impactful in the squad's ability to maintain a prominent presence in the paint.

While Corban's backcourt remains one of its greatest strengths, replacing the production of departed standouts Jenna Albrecht, Emilia Bishop, Tori Younker, Mandie Jensen, and Sevennah Van De Riet will require contributions from both returners and newcomers. Collectively, that group accounted for nearly 43 points per game and a significant portion of the team's rebounding and leadership with Albrecht, Bishop, and Younker all earning All-Conference honors last year, while Jensen was named the CCC Sixth Player of the Year.

The Warriors addressed those departures through a recruiting class loaded with versatility and experience.

Leading the newcomer group is junior transfer Abigail Winslow, who arrives following collegiate stops at Pensacola Christian College and Mississippi Christian University. Winslow earned Defensive Player of the Year honors during her collegiate career and was recognized on an All-Freshman Team while establishing herself as a proven two-way contributor.

Redshirt freshman guard Ava Mai also joined the program after spending last season at NCAA DII Seattle Pacific University. A former state champion and decorated prep standout at Oregon City High School, Mai brings athleticism, defensive intensity, and playmaking ability to an already talented backcourt.

Inside, freshman center Zoey Baker provides an intriguing option as the Warriors seek to replace Bishop's All-Conference presence in the paint. The 6-foot-3 post averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game while earning league Player of the Year and First Team All-State honors during her senior season at Crosshill Christian School.

Freshman guards Addy Sinclair and Mackenzie Prince round out the recruiting class. Sinclair adds athletic versatility to the backcourt, while Prince arrives as an accomplished perimeter shooter after helping Northwest Christian School capture a state championship.

Warrior Whims (Final Thoughts)

Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the season is how Corban replaces the interior production of Emilia Bishop, who averaged 11.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest while starting all 32 games. Quality depth at the forward/center position does not come easily within the NAIA ranks, and Frizell's staff is tasked with doing so behind primarily underclassmen either by way of returners or newcomers. The Warriors will look toward sophomore forwards Lucy Nyborg and Haley Ferry to take substantial developmental leaps, while Baker's arrival gives the roster additional size and rim protection.

If the frontcourt can successfully replace the rebounding and defensive production lost through graduation, Corban's offensive firepower may once again make it one of the conference's most difficult teams to defend. For Corban to defend its conference crown and return to the national stage, three areas will likely determine the season's outcome.

First, the Warriors must continue their offensive efficiency despite losing several proven scorers. Last season's squad averaged more than 80 points per game and led the CCC in both three-point shooting and made three-pointers. Maintaining that offensive identity will be crucial.

Second, frontcourt development will need to offset the graduation losses in the paint. Rebounding was one of Corban's strengths in 2025-26, as the team outrebounded opponents by more than six boards per game.

Finally, integrating a talented incoming class quickly could elevate the Warriors' ceiling. The combination of experienced transfers and high-upside freshmen provides depth that few programs possess.

A year ago, the Warriors entered the season hoping to prove they belonged among the CCC's top programs. Today, there is little doubt they have arrived. With an All-American leading the charge, experienced veterans throughout the backcourt, the return of a proven starter in Bennett, and a recruiting class poised to make an immediate impact, Corban enters the 2026-27 campaign with every intention of remaining atop the conference standings.

The path back to the NAIA National Tournament will not be easy, but the pieces are in place for another memorable season inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center as the Warriors seek to build upon one of the most successful campaigns in program history.