Posted: Oct 25, 2025
Women's Basketball tips off 2025-26 on Homecoming
Wiley University women's basketball begins the 2025-26 season with a rivalry matchup against Texas College for its 2025 Homecoming Game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Lady Wildcats are coming off a memorable 2024-25 season, which culminated in them reaching the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) championship game. They finished 15-14. They were picked by the HBCUAC coaches to finish eighth in the conference in the Preseason Rankings, despite its strong finish last season, which saw them in the top four of the conference, most of the second half.
Four players return from last season's team. Jessica Nerestant averaged 11.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. She earned two HBCUAC Defensive Player of the Week Awards, All-Defensive and All-Tournament Team. Kelechi Dike joined the team in the second half of the season and averaged 10.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 10 games. Kendall Campbell spent time on both varsity and junior varsity. She increased her production in the HBCUAC Championship with double-digit scoring performances against Wilberforce University and Tougaloo College. Erin Love played in 26 games with three starts. She averaged 3.9 rebounds per game.
Cailan Hale, who redshirted last season after suffering an injury in her freshman season, is now active. Mia Thomas looks to get her first action after sitting out due to injury last season. Kiersten Harris, who played from 2021-2024, returns to the team after a season away. Keimora Banks, Mijanae Berry, Daviunia Jones and Nyemah Hodo gained eligibility this season.
Head coach DeWitt Mandley brought in six transfers to add depth to the roster. He enters his third season, the longest tenure since Red River Athletic Conference Hall of Famer Courtney Garrett Pruitt led the Lady Wildcats from 2011 to 2015. He added Kailyn Watkins and Celebria Peacock, who started at point guard last season as assistant coaches. Diamond Hawthorne, who played 2.5 seasons, returns for her second season as a student assistant. Emilee Proctor and Carly Gates are redshirting and will assist the coaching staff.
Texas College is coming off a 10-17 season. It fell short of making the Red River Athletic Conference Championship but finished the season on a two-game winning streak. No information was available on this season's team.
The Lady Wildcats have dominated the series against Texas College, winning 22 of 29 games since 2003. The schools competed against each other in the Red River Athletic Conference from 1998 to 2022. They last played each other in 2023, with each team winning on its home court.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit https://www.wileyathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index.
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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