SEATTLE - Seattle University women’s basketball (0-0) ushers in its 2026-27 season on the road against New Mexico (0-0) with a new look, welcoming 13 new players and a new coaching staff under the guidance of new head coach John Bonner. The Redhawks square off against the Lobos on Monday, November 2 at 10 AM PT with the contest available for streaming on MW+.
Bonner became the program’s seventh head coach in May of 2026 and quickly crafted a new roster over the summer, fielding seven upperclassmen, three sophomores and three freshmen while retaining sophomore Dylan Mogel from last year’s squad. Mogel appeared and started 18 games before suffering a season ending injury. She combined for 47 points, 37 rebounds and 41 assists in her first year. With abundant experience, the Redhawks enter a new era with a new pace of play and sharpened defense as they enter their second season as a member of the West Coast Conference.
Looking to be a structural piece for the program is junior Cristina Jones, who enters her third season under Bonner’s leadership. Jones got her collegiate start at CSU Dominguez Hills before competing as a sophomore at CSU Fullerton. Jones and Bonner led Fullerton to a 18-14 record, while Jones captured Co-Big West Hustle Player of the Year after nearly averaging a double-double in her first year at the Division I level. Jones posted 16.5 PPG and 9.9 RBG while shooting 44.1 percent from the field. On the defensive end, the guard picked up 118 steals.
Graduate Shelley Duchemin has extensive DI playing experience, joining the Redhawks after spending the last two seasons at UC Riverside. Duchemin returns to action after limited play in 2025-26 after working through injury. Prior to last season, Duchemin averaged 10.5 PPG shooting 40.8 percent for UCR while picking up 4.9 RBG.
Junior Claire Fraser and sophomore Sophie Buzzard have grown into their own since arriving in Seattle, adding threat around the perimeter. Fraser saw action in 26 contests last season with Northern Colorado, while Buzzard played in 31 contests for Portland State. Buzzard posted 4.2 points per game and 1.4 rebounds in her collegiate debut season. Fraser averaged 1.6 PPG and 1.0 RBG following two seasons with the Bears.
Junior Erin Sellers spent last season with former WAC conference mate UT Arlington. Sellers averaged 2.7 PPG and 1.4 RBG with the Mavs after starting at the Division II level. The junior guard appeared in 32 contests, while earning the start in three.
Sophomore Alanna Neale joins the program via Nebraska, appearing in eight contests with the Cornhuskers. She recorded 1.3 PPG shooting 44.4 percent from the field in limited action over her freshman campaign.
Junior Mahliya Wilson makes the leap to DI after spending two seasons at Dominican. Wilson saw action in 25 contests last season while earning the start in 20, combining for 15.4 PPG and 4.3 RBG while shooting 41 percent from the field. Also entering her junior season is Milana Nenadic, who most recently played for Valparaiso. Nenadic appeared in 32 games while starting 18 where she averaged 9.4 PPG and 5.3 RBG, adding height down low standing at the team’s tallest 6 '3..
Seattle U welcomes three freshmen in Sy Simanton, a product of nearby Bellevue, Lindsay Biddle, from San Diego, and Gabriela Escorial, from Spain, one of three international student athletes on SU’s roster.
Rounding out the roster is senior Ayanna Jackson who spent her junior year at Texas Southern. While there, Jackson saw a new career high averaging 6.1 PPG and 3.4 RBG. Sophomore Nari Powers competed at Georgia State for her freshman year, appearing in 29 games while earning the start in two. She averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
The Redhawks were voted eighth amongst their peers in the 2026-27 WCC Preseason Poll, finishing above Saint Mary’s and the conference’s newest member Denver. Seattle U wrapped up its first season with a first round exit in the WCC Tournament against Washington State after securing its first ever WCC victory in January against San Diego.
Monday’s meeting is just the second ever contest between the Redhawks and Lobos and first ever in Albuquerque. They pair have not met since 1979, where Seattle U secured the narrow 65-64 edge over New Mexico in Seattle.
New Mexico also enters game one with a first year head coach in Amy Eagan. The Lobos were elected to finish fifth in the Mountain West Preseason, while earning one first place vote. UNM finished 22-9 a season ago with a 14-6 record in Mountain West play. The Lobos also earned a first round exit in their conference tournament. New Mexico, like Seattle U, will turn to almost an entirely new roster and coaching staff, as the Lobos added nine newcomers over the summer.
Following Monday’s game, the Redhawks will prepare for their home debut, hosting UC Riverside inside the Redhawk Center on Friday, November 6 at 6:00 PM.
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