TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Northeastern State announced its 2026-27 women's basketball schedule, with the fourth season under Keith Ferguson featuring 16 home games, including 15 at the NSU Event Center, as well as an expanded 22-game MIAA schedule.

The RiverHawks begin play with an exhibition on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. against Kansas, the first meeting between the programs at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. After spending the end of the month in Canyon, Texas, to face Tampa (Oct. 30) and New Mexico Highlands (Oct. 31), the RiverHawks open their home schedule with the MIAA/GAC Challenge in November against Southwestern Oklahoma (Nov. 13) and Oklahoma Baptist (Nov. 14) at the NSU Event Center. 

NSU continues non-conference play Nov. 18 at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, after hosting the Tigers in 2025. The RiverHawks follow with their longest homestand of the season, hosting four straight games in The Nest, beginning with Henderson State (Nov. 21) and UT Dallas (Nov. 23) before opening MIAA play against Northwest Missouri State (Nov. 27) and Missouri Western (Nov. 29).

The RiverHawks continue their MIAA slate in December with the team's longest conference road trip of the season, traveling to face Nebraska Kearney (Dec. 3) and Fort Hays State (Dec. 5). The RiverHawks will host Drury inside Jack Dobbins Fieldhouse on Dec. 12 before ending the calendar year on the road at Washburn (Dec. 17) and Central Missouri (Dec. 19).

The RiverHawks open 2027 in The Nest against nearby foe Arkansas-Fort Smith, starting a three-game homestand that concludes with contests against Newman (Jan. 7) and Emporia State (Jan.9). The RiverHawks will not have to travel far for the team's next road trip, staying in the Sooner State for road games against Rogers State (Jan. 13) and Central Oklahoma (Jan. 16). The team's lone multi-game homestand in January occurs the following week when they host Pittsburg State (Jan. 20) and Missouri Southern (Jan. 23) before closing the month with their first MIAA rematches through return trips to Missouri Western (Jan. 28) and Northwest Missouri State (Jan. 30).

The RiverHawks dive further into the second half of conference play by hosting Central Missouri (Feb. 4) and Washburn (Feb. 6). A three-game road trip follows with the regular season series finales against Arkansas-Fort Smith (Feb. 13), Emporia State (Feb. 18) and Newman (Feb. 20). A week of rivalries in The Nest closes the regular season with dates against Rogers State (Feb. 24) and Central Oklahoma (Feb. 27).

The MIAA Tournament returns to Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, from March 3-7. The RiverHawks aim for their third conference postseason berth of the Ferguson era and the program's first MIAA Tournament win since 2015.

The Ferguson-led RiverHawks enter the season following the program's first winning campaign since 2013, finishing with an overall record of 17-12. The team returns four of its top five scorers and four of five players with at least 20 starts from the previous season, including All-MIAA Third Team selection McKenzie Smith.

Northeastern State women's basketball games can be heard at home and on the road on ESPN 99.9 FM/1550 AM in Tulsa and on Lakes Country 102.1 in Tahlequah. All Sports Passes are available now at goriverhawksgo.com/tickets. Season passes for the 2026-27 basketball season will become available at a later date.