OPENING TIP
• The Leopards return to College Hill for their 2026-27 home opener against Wagner. Lafayette has previously faced off against the Monarchs 13 times, with the most recent matchup happening last season on Nov. 20. In the previous series meeting, the Maroon and White secured a 56-53 victory as Teresa Kiewet (15) and Talia Zurinskas (14) combined for 29 points in the win.

• The Leopards return 11 players from last season, five of whom started in at least 10 contests. Lafayette concluded 2025-26 with an 11-19 (7-11 PL) overall record, advancing to the Patriot League Tournament's quarterfinal round. 

• Tasha Chudy, Teresa Kiewiet and Talia Zurinskas were named as team captains on Oct. 31. Chudy competed in over 60 games for the Leopards through her career, heading into her senior season boasting a 75.7 percent free throw average. Kiewiet, a 2026-27 Patriot League Preseason All-League selection, contributed a team-best 16.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.2 apg. Kiewiet recorded double-digits in points in 25 contests, five double-doubles and finished the year in the top 10 of Lafayette's single-season scoring list in 2025-26. Her post-season accolades included the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year (the first Leopard in conference history to win the award since its inception in 1990-91) and All-Conference Second Team. As a Psychology major, Zurinskas started in all 30 games last winter. She averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a guard while shooting 34.8 percent from the field.

 • The Leopards host five non-conference games while traveling to six opponents in the non-conference slate. Patriot League play kicks off prior to the New Year on Dec. 30 when Lafayette hosts Navy at 1 p.m.

 • Next up, the Leopards remain in Easton on Nov. 11, hosting NJIT for a 6 p.m. showdown. Coverage for the contest can be viewed on ESPN+

THE MATCHUP
Wagner enters the 2026-27 season after finishing 13-17 overall and a 9-9 record within the Northeast Conference (NEC) in 2025-26. Head Coach Terrell Coburn enters his 6th season at the helm of the Seahawks, starting his 11th season with the program. Coburn returns four players from the previous winter roster. A total of 11 newcomers were welcomed onto the Green & White's squad, with seven transfers and four freshmen. The Seahawks downed SUNY Cortland, 80-72, on Monday in their season opener as six players finished in double figures. Last season, Coach Coburn had Wagner's defense at the top of the NEC in steals per game with 9.8. Wagner boasted the second-best scoring defense in the conference last year, holding opponents to just 59.6 points per game. 

LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, Lafayette opened the 2026-27 season with a 95-37 loss to the Big East's St. John's on Monday afternoon in Carnesecca Arena. The Leopards' top performance came through freshman Reneyia Pickering, who tallied a team-high nine points and went four-for-six at the charity stripe. Lafayette kept to 25 percent from the floor overall and secured 12 bench points.

AT THE HELM
Ben O'Brien takes up the mantle for Lafayette as the eighth head coach since the program's inception in 1972 and the first male. His arrival to College Hill follows a historic head-coaching tenure at Scranton, where he compiled 117-7 (.943) record over four seasons that included four conference championships (2023-26), two undefeated regular seasons (2023, 2026), four NCAA Tournament appearances (2023-26) and three Elite 8 stints (2024–26). During the 2026 NCAA Tournament run, O'Brien led Scranton to the NCAA Division III National Championship Game after using its Final Four appearance to snap NYU's 91-game winning streak.

SUCCESS FROM DEEP
The 2025-26 Leopard squad etched its name in the record books as the program leader for 3-point field goals and attempts with 216-for-632 over 30 contests. The 34.2 percentage ranks fourth all-time for the Maroon and White.

PROMOTIONAL SLATE
Lafayette will host the seventh annual School Day Game, in partnership with Lafayette's Landis Center for Community Engagement and Easton Area School District, on Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. against Loyola Maryland. On Feb. 13 versus Bucknell, the Leopards will raise funds and awareness for the breast cancer during the Pink Game.