Lady Toppers Off to 1-0 Start Behind Win Against Chattanooga

WKU Athletics Media Release

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU women’s basketball (1-0) started the 2026-27 season off with a 61-50 win against Chattanooga (1-1) on Wednesday evening in E.A. Diddle Arena. Three Lady Toppers scored in double figures and eight players notched points in the scoring column.

HOW IT HAPPENED

WKU got off to a dominant defensive start, holding Chattanooga to just two points in the first quarter. It was the fewest points WKU has allowed in a quarter since giving up just two against West Virginia State in the second quarter on Dec. 29, 2023. The Lady Toppers took an 11-2 lead into the second quarter.

After a low scoring first frame, both teams leveled up offensively in the second quarter. The two teams went back and forth and WKU took a 28-23 lead into halftime.

Chattanooga tied things up with 3:41 left in the third quarter, but WKU went on a 10-2 scoring run to take a 45-37 lead into the final quarter. Eight of WKU’s 10 points in that run were from the free throw line, including six from Jamila Ray.

The Lady Toppers put Chattanooga away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mocs 16-13 in the frame.

QUOTABLE

“I was really proud of how they came out and started the game defensively,” said head coach Greg Collins. “We just have these spells where we have trouble making shots, but they didn’t let that affect their defensive focus or intensity. It wasn’t always perfectly executed, but they kept playing hard. That’s been the key – just trying to teach them to keep playing.”

NOTABLES

• Freshman Jamila Ray led WKU in scoring with 14 points to go along with three rebounds and three steals. Her 14 points are the most in a freshman debut since 2020. The rookie also went 10-of-10 from the free throw line, all 10 coming in the second half.
• Junior Hayven Smith had 13 points and four rebounds in her WKU debut. She set new career highs in points, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, steals and minutes and tied career highs in free throws and assists.
• Graduate student Josie Gilvin had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in her first game back in Diddle Arena. It was her seventh career double-double and her 27th game scoring in double figures.
• WKU improves to 39-15 in season openers all-time and 43-11 in home openers all-time and have won four straight in each category.
• The Lady Toppers outrebounded Chattanooga, 41-37. WKU is 73-19 under Collins when outrebounding opponents.
• WKU improves to 126-59 under Collins when scoring 60-or-more points and 57-14 when holding teams below 60.

UP NEXT

The Lady Toppers will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 8 against Christian Brothers in Diddle Arena. Tipoff is set for 2:00 PM.