COLUMBIA, S.C. — This is not just another gameday.
At 1:00 PM today, inside John Hurst Adams Gymnasium, the Allen University women's basketball team begins its postseason journey as the proud host of the 2026 SIAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championship presented by Toyota.
The Lady Yellow Jackets earned this moment. A 17–9 overall record. A 16–8 mark in SIAC play. A fourth-place finish in the East Division. But more importantly — a body of work that positioned Allen to bring championship basketball home.
Now the call goes out to the entire Allen University family and the Columbia, S.C. community:
Pack the stands. And pack them early.
Energy matters. Familiar faces matter. Noise matters. The Lady Yellow Jackets need the Hive rocking before the opening tip so they can feed off it from the first possession.
This postseason push didn't begin this week — it began in preseason conditioning. In summer workouts. In film sessions. In early-morning lifts. A SIAC trophy has been the goal since day one. Today is the first step toward it.
Keys to the Game
Allen enters championship play averaging 73.6 points per game while holding opponents to 67.7, a +6 scoring margin that reflects balance and discipline. The Lady Yellow Jackets shoot 41.9% from the field and average 6.3 three-pointers per game, stretching defenses and creating space inside.
Ball movement will be critical — Allen averages 15.0 assists per game, showing their ability to share the basketball and create quality shots.
Defensively, the Lady Yellow Jackets generate 12.1 steals per game and average 22.0 points off turnovers, turning pressure into offense. Their activity on the defensive end often fuels momentum-changing runs.
Players to Watch
Peighton Jambor — The team's leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, Jambor combines efficiency (.474 FG%) with confidence at the free-throw line (.798). She's a steady force in big moments.
Morgan Smith — Averaging 11.0 points per game and shooting nearly 47% from the floor, Smith brings interior toughness and versatility.
Eboni Clay — One of the emotional leaders, Clay contributes 10.8 points per game and shoots an impressive 88.1% from the free-throw line, a critical weapon in postseason play.
Anissa Tuitt — A perimeter threat shooting 41.2% from three-point range, if you understand basketball she is one of the most dangerous players during tournament style play - a player capable of changing the pace of a game with one shot.
Jasmine Norman — A fearless perimeter shooter, Norman has knocked down 42 three-pointers this season, shooting 30% from beyond the arc and averaging 6.8 points per game. Her ability to stretch the defense creates driving lanes and opens up the floor for Allen's balanced attack. When Norman finds her rhythm early, the Lady Yellow Jackets' offense operates at another level.
And this is what makes Allen dangerous — it's not just one star. It's depth. It's unity. It's multiple players capable of stepping up when the moment demands it.
At the center of it all is Head Coach Olivia Gaines, whose steady leadership has guided this group from preseason vision to postseason opportunity. Gaines has built this team on discipline, accountability, and belief — belief that Allen belongs on this stage. Through conference battles, road tests, and growth moments, she has positioned the Lady Yellow Jackets not just to host, but to compete with confidence. Today is a reflection of her culture — one built on preparation meeting opportunity.
CLOSING MESSAGE:
This is bigger than basketball.
This is a university moment. A Columbia moment. A chance to show what Allen Athletics looks like when the Hive moves as one.
Be in your seat early. Bring your voice. Bring your energy. Let's make John Hurst Adams Gymnasium a championship environment from the opening tip.
The journey to a SIAC trophy begins today.
Let's pack the Hive.
