YSU Women’s Basketball Announces Non-Conference Contest at Colorado on Nov. 14
8/12/2026 11:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State head women's basketball coach Melissa Jackson announced on Wednesday that the Penguins have agreed to play at Big 12 member Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 14, as part of the team's 2026-27 non-conference schedule.
Youngstown State, which is coming off a historic 2025-26 season that featured 25 wins and a berth in the Postseason WNIT, will face Colorado on the hardwood for the first time in program history. The game against the Buffaloes will mark YSU's first contest against a current member of the Big 12 since playing at West Virgina on Nov. 19, 2023. YSU's matchup with Colorado will also be the program's first game against a team located in the state of Colorado.
Youngstown State, which is also slated to visit Big Ten member USC on Dec. 13, finished with a 25-10 record in 2025-26, posting the second-highest win total in program history. YSU also advanced to the Horizon League Championship game for the first time in program history and won a game in the Postseason WNIT for the first time in 13 years.
The Penguins will return a pair of forwards who garnered All-Horizon League accolades in 2025-26. Sarah Baker was named to the Horizon All-Freshman Team last season after setting a new YSU freshman record for points scored, while Paulina Hernandez was voted the Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year after leading the league in blocked shots.
In addition, Danielle Cameron returns after setting a new YSU freshman record for 3-pointers, and Erica King is back for her third season as a Penguin after recording 9.9 points per game, 2.7 assists per contest, 51 3-pointers and 47 steals as a sophomore in 2025-26.
Colorado finished the 2025-26 season with a 22-12 overall record, including an 11-7 mark in Big 12 play. The Buffaloes earned an at-large bid in the 2026 NCAA Tournament as a No. 10 seed before falling to No. 7 seed Illinois in the opening round.
Colorado's 2026-27 roster currently consists of seven returning players, five incoming transfers, and two true freshmen under 11th-year head coach JR Payne. The Buffaloes lost their leading scorer Desiree Wooten to the transfer portal but also added several high impact transfers. Sophomore forward and UT Arlington transfer Kira Reynolds joins Colorado after averaging 13.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game last season.
Tipoff time for YSU's contest at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo., will be announced at a later date. Youngstown State's complete non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season will be announced in the coming weeks.
For the latest news and updates on the YSU women's basketball program, follow @YSUWomensHoops on X and Instagram.
