Women's Basketball

MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Nov. 9)

Player of the Week: Julia Coleman, UIC
Newcomer of the Week: Hannah Chicken, Illinois State
Freshman of the Week: Chelby Jordan, Belmont

Julia Coleman began the 2026-27 season averaging 16.3 points for the week after going 19-of-41 from the field, 1-of-1 from three, and 10-of-16 from the free-throw line, while adding 15 total rebounds, nine assists, and one steal. In the
Flames' season opener, Coleman recorded the first basket of the year for UIC. She ended the night with 10 points, four rebounds, and one steal.In the Flames' home opener, Coleman helped propel the Flames to their first win over
Northwestern since 2007, their first victory over a Big Ten opponent since 2013, and their first win over a Power Four since 2022. Against the Wildcats, Coleman came three points shy of her career high, ending the night with 29 points.
She finished the game going 11-of-18 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line, recording eight rebounds and five assists.

Illinois State's Hannah Chicken made an immediate impact in her first three games with the Redbirds, averaging a double-double of 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds while helping lead Illinois State to an undefeated 3-0 start. The sophomore forward recorded double-doubles in each of the final two contests, posting 19 points and 13 rebounds in a 91-87 road victory at Dayton before following with 20 points and 12 rebounds in a 96-54 win over Augustana. Chicken shot 51.4 percent from the field for the week, totaling 48 points, 31 rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks. Her 31 rebounds lead the Missouri Valley Conference, and she was the only MVC player to average a double-double through the opening week of the season. Chicken's consistent production on both ends of the floor has been instrumental in the Redbirds' perfect start.

Belmont freshman Chelby Jordan made an immediate impression in her collegiate debut, scoring in double figures in each of her first three games while averaging 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The guard from Trenton, Tennessee, saved her best performance for Sunday's matchup against Columbia, recording her first career 20-point game with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting (66.7 percent). Jordan also contributed five rebounds and five assists against the Lions. She opened her collegiate career with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals against Princeton before adding 12 points, four rebounds and three assists against South Florida. Through three games, Jordan leads the Bruins in scoring (15.0 PPG), assists (4.0 APG) and steals (2.7 SPG), showcasing an impressive all-around game in the opening week of her freshman campaign.

Conference News & Notes

  • Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball programs combined for nine wins during the first week of the 2026-27 season. 
  • First-year head coach Chaia Meier helped Bradley collect a home-opening win over Northern Illinois, marking her first-career Division I victory. 
  • Illinois State is off to its best start since the 2022-23 campaign with an untouched 3-0 record. The Redbirds are averaging a league-high 98.5 points per game heading into the second week of season - the 11th-highest average in Division I. 
  • Eight MVC players turned in 20-plus point performances during opening week, including a league-high 33 points by Halli Poock in Murray State’s season-opening win over Southern Indiana. The senior guard’s 33 points is tied for the ninth-most in a game this year.
  • Northern Iowa’s Elise Jaeger leads the league in rebounding, averaging 12.0 boards per contest, which ranks 17th in Division I. In a setback to South Dakota State, the junior matched her career-high with 16 rebounds to go with 12 points for her ninth-career double-double. 
  • Illinois State newcomer Hannah Chicken is the only player in The Valley averaging a double-double to start the year, sitting at 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. 
  • UIC earned the 76-71 victory against Northwestern in its home opener, marking the first win over the Wildcats since 2007, first over a Big Ten opponent since 2013 and first over a Power Four program since 2022.
  • Drake won its 12th-consecutive season opener with a 76-54 victory over Eastern Illinois. Quinn Vice came off the bench to lead all scorers with 16 points, while the Bulldogs as a team lead the MVC and rank inside the top 25 nationally in bench points per game (40.0).
  • Murray State and Belmont participated in the inaugural Opening Statement - a women’s basketball scheduling alliance between the MVC, American Conference, Atlantic 10 (A-10) and Ivy League. Three of the four contests played by MVC programs in the event were decided by five points or less.
  • Six games on the docket this week in The Valley are against teams that competed in NCAA-sponsored postseason tournaments in 2026, including four games against NCAA Tournament teams with two of those against teams currently ranked inside the AP Top 25.