JACKSON, Tenn. — The Allen University women's basketball team closed out its regular season Thursday evening with a 72–64 loss to Lane College at J.F. Lane Gymnasium, but the bigger picture remains firmly in focus.
Despite the setback, the Lady Yellow Jackets finish the regular season 17–9 overall and 16–8 in the SIAC, locking in a fourth-place finish in the East Division and earning the right to host the opening round of the 2026 SIAC Women's Basketball Championship presented by Toyota.
In a tightly contested game that featured 11 lead changes and six ties, Allen battled throughout but was unable to overcome Lane's fourth-quarter surge.
Peighton Jambor led the way offensively with 13 points and nine rebounds, anchoring the interior effort. Tanaja Kennedy added 10 points, while Morgan Smith and Macy Brackett each chipped in nine points. Jasmine Norman contributed 10 points, including three made field goals, and the Lady Yellow Jackets received solid bench production with 32 points from the second unit.
Allen controlled stretches of the contest inside, scoring 34 points in the paint, but Lane capitalized at the free-throw line and made key plays down the stretch to create separation in the final minutes.
As a team, the Lady Yellow Jackets pulled down 37 rebounds and generated 15 fast break points, showing flashes of the tempo and defensive pressure that have defined their season.
Head Coach Olivia Gaines understands that while the regular-season finale didn't go the way Allen hoped, the larger accomplishment remains significant. Through consistency, resilience, and balanced play all season long, her squad positioned itself to host a postseason matchup — a testament to the work put in from October through February.
With the regular season complete, Allen now shifts to a short-term memory mindset. The Lady Yellow Jackets will prepare to face Spring Hill College in the opening round of the SIAC Tournament on their home floor, where the opportunity to make a championship run awaits.
The loss may close one chapter, but the mission remains alive. With home-court advantage secured and postseason basketball ahead, Allen's focus is clear — reset, refocus, and defend the Hive.
Now it's time for the Hive to start buzzing for TOURNAMENT BASKETBALL just in time as the madness of March approaches.
