NEW ORLEANS – After claiming eight home victories in the first round of this season’s MAC-SBC Challenge in November, it’s the Sun Belt women’s teams will hit the road and face 13 Mid-American Conference opponents on Saturday, February 7 and 8.
All games will be available on ESPN+.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
BATTLE FOR THE BELT
The Sun Belt seeks its second MAC-SBC Challenge title in three seasons after capturing the inaugural title in 2023-24 posting 14 wins in the 24 contests, including nine wins during the November 2023 tilts. The Mac played to a series victory in 2024-25 winning 15-9 over the Sun Belt. Heading into Saturday’s second round of games, the Sun Belt leads 8-5.
BATTLE OF THE BIRDS
Georgia Southern (17-5, 10-2) is tied for second in the Sun Belt and will face the MAC’s top team in Miami (OH) who are 10-0 in the MAC. Georgia Southern is averaging 74.2 points per game to the RedHawks 71.9, however Miami (OH) is holding opponents to just 57.8 points per game. Both teams have four starters that are averaging double-digit scoring figures. The two programs are meeting for the first time in program history, and the Eagles will have a chance to end the RedHawks 11-game win streak and give them their first loss at home.
TROJANS FACE THE REIGNING CHAMPS
Troy (19-4, 10-2) will take on the MAC’s reigning champions, Ball State (18-5, 10-1). The two teams each have the top scoring offenses in their respective leagues, with Troy averaging 83.9 points per game and Ball State averaging 78.3. Troy is the most dominant team in the nation on the boards with a 50.7 per game average, compared to Ball States 43.7. Troy’s biggest advantage in the matchup may be forwards Zay Dyer and Fortuna Ngnawo, who are the only teammates in the country each be averaging a double-double.
SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT
James Madison (17-8, 9-4) will face UMass (16-4, 8-2) in the only MAC-SBC matchup of Sunday. The two programs are both in the top half of their respective leagues and are riding three game win streaks heading into the matchup. Both teams won their respective November MAC-SBC matchups with the JMU defeating Kent State, 80-67 and UMass defeating ODU, 58-52. The Dukes are 2-0 all-time versus the Minutemen.
PARTY IN PENSACOLA
The 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve will be held March 3-9, 2026 at the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla., The championship game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 on Monday, March 9. The 2026 tournament will mark the sixth consecutive season the Sun Belt hosts the event in Pensacola, which will remain at the venue through the 2029-30 campaign. A different program has been crowned champion in each of the first five years in Pensacola: Arkansas State (2025), Marshall (2024), James Madison (2023), UTA (2022) and Troy (2021).
IMPACT PLAYERS – Sun Belt Statistical Leaders
PPG: Peyton McDaniel, JMU, 18.5
FG%: Cordasia Harris, USA, .557
3FG%: Emani Jenkins, Troy, .438
FT%: Saniya Burks, TXST, .870
RPG: Zay Dyer, TROY, 12.4
BPG: Riley Stack, ODU, 2.6
APG: Nakiyah Mays-Price, ULM, 4.4
SPG: Timaya Lewis-Eutsey, MAR, 3.5
WHERE TO WATCH
| Date |
Time |
Matchup |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
12:00 p.m. |
Louisiana at Akron |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
12:00 p.m. |
South Alabama at Western Michigan |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
1:00 p.m. |
Georgia Southern at Miami (OH) |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
2:00 p.m. |
Troy at Ball State |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
2:00 p.m. |
App State at Kent State |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
2:00 p.m. |
Southern Miss at Toledo |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
2:00 p.m. |
Marshall at Central Michigan |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
3:00 p.m. |
Old Dominion at Ohio |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
3:00 p.m. |
Arkansas State at Eastern Michigan |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
3:00 p.m. |
Coastal Carolina at Bowling Green |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
3:00 p.m. |
ULM at Buffalo |
ESPN+ |
| Saturday, Feb. 7 |
5:00 p.m. |
Texas State at Nothern Illinois |
ESPN2 |
| Sunday, Feb. 8 |
6:00 p.m. |
James Madison at UMass |
ESPN+ |
All Times CT