NASHVILLE – After a difficult 2024-25 season, the Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team entered the Doug Novak Era with high hopes. Early on in the campaign, the Trojans have experienced highs and lows, and as the calendar turns to 2026, the Trojans are well positioned to continue their early season success.

Defense Keys A Fast Start
Trevecca opened the season with a pair of exhibition wins, and that set the stage for an early season surge. The Trojans' homecoming win over Oakwood was punctuated by a stout defensive effort. Trevecca held the Ambassadors to 7-for-33 shooting in the opening three quarters, and they held Oakwood only 43 points in the game. The Trojans forced 15 turnovers in the game, and 14 of those came with steals accompanying them, The Trojans held Oakwood to just 26% shooting in the game, including only 15.8% from beyond the arc. That defensive stinginess continued in their second exhibition win, an 80-37 win over Fisk University. In that contest, the Trojans let up less than a point per minute for the game, and this time, the Trojans held their foes below the 25% mark in shooting.

As the regular season commenced, Trevecca headed south to Boca Raton for the Gulf South Conference/Sunshine State Conference Crossover. The Trojans took on the Barry Buccaneers and the Lyon University Fighting Knights, and the strong start on the defensive end continued. The Trojans held the Buccaneers to 15 or fewer points in each quarter, and again, Trevecca's opponent did not break the 50-point threshold. In the second game of the weekend, the Trojans offense ignited to go along with their solid defense. Cheyenne Trotter put up a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds, and Trevecca had four players in double-figures as the Trojans erupted for the 86-54 win. 

The Trojans returned home to host former Great Midwest foe Kentucky Wesleyan, and despite the Trojans again having four players with double digit scoring efforts, the Trojans took an overtime defeat at the hands of the Panthers. That setback, though, only set the stage for their best performance of the young season. Trevecca bounced back with a dominant 80-38 win over Emory & Henry University in which Trevecca held the Wasps to only 24.5% shooting, and 3-for-19 from long range. The Trojans dominated on the glass with a 48-32 advantage, and they were particularly dominant on the fast break where Trevecca held a 27-0 advantage.

Overall in their first four games, the Trojans held their opponents to 33.3% shooting overall, and in three of the games, the Trevecca defense yielded fewer than 20 opponent made shots. Beyond the 3-point line, the Trevecca defense was even better, where they yielded only 23 makes on 95 opponent attempts for a total of just 24%. In those four games, Trevecca forced 85 turnovers and gave up only 75 made field goal attempts. .

Gulf South Play Opens
As the Trojans rode the wave of momentum into Gulf South play, things got tighter, but the success continued. Trevecca opened GSC play at home with a nail-biting win over Auburn University at Montgomery. The Trojans started slowly, as they scored only six points in the first quarter, but Trevecca bounced back to take a 20-19 halftime lead. The Trojans posted a huge third quarter, where they made 10 of 13 shots, but AUM nearly matched it with a 7-for-10 frame. At the end of 30 minutes, the Trojans held a 46-42 lead. Both teams cooled considerably in the fourth frame, and there were six lead changes in the final frame as the Trojans got a bucket from Brianna Burgess with three seconds to play that gave the Trojans the 62-61 win. Burgess was one of three Trojans in double figures in the win.

Trevecca's surge continued in their second GSC tilt of the season when they welcomed the University of Montevallo to Nashville. Trevecca dominated the game in the paint, where they had a 20-point advantage. Trevecca tallied 38 points to only 18 for the Falcons, and Trevecca also had a 15-8 edge in second chance points. Trevecca was led by Jordan Gillies with a 25-point effort, and they also got another double-double from Trotter with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The win moved Trevecca to 5-1 on the year and 2-0 in the GSC. 

Trevecca followed that up with their first road trip of the GSC schedule - the difficult double of trips to Alabama-Hunstville and West Alabama. The Trojans took losses in both games, the second one a closely fought loss to the Tigers by just four points. Trevecca bounced back on their home court with a 63-56 win over Valdosta State in their penultimate GSC tilt of the 2025 schedule, but as the conference slate closed, it was West Florida who took a win over the Trojans to send Trevecca into the Christmas break with a 6-4 record overall and a 3-3 record in the GSC.

Overall in the first 10 games, the Trojans have out-scored their opponents by an average of 7.3 points per game, and they also hold a slim rebounding advantage. Trotter has averaged a double-double with a team best 15.2 points and 11 rebounds per game. If she can keep the pace up, Trotter is in position to be the first Trojan since Jackie Weaver in 2005-06 to average a double-double. 
 

TEAM RANKINGS

GSC RANKINGS FG% Defense - 1 Scoring Defense - 2 Turnover Margin - 2 Steals - 2 FG% Offense - 3 Scoring Margin - 3 3-point FG% - 4 3-point FG Made - 4 Blocked Shots - 4 Assists - 4 Scoring Offense - 5 Free Throw% - 5 Rebounding Margin - 5