Grayson College Women’s Basketball Returns to National Stage After 15-Year Absence
For the first time in 15 years, the Grayson College Women’s Basketball team is headed to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 25-3 record.
The Vikings will be the No. 15 seed and will face the No. 18 seed Southwestern Illinois College in the first round on Tuesday, March 24 at 12:15pm at Townsley Law Arena on the campus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
“We are incredibly proud of our Women’s Basketball team for earning the opportunity to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament,” said Dr. Jeremy McMillen, president of Grayson College. “Their dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence have represented Grayson College in an outstanding way. We look forward to cheering them on as they compete on the national stage.”
The last time the Vikings appeared in the national tournament was during the 2010–11 season under then head coach Elena Lovato. That team finished with a 32-4 record, capturing the NTJCAC Conference Championship, the Region V Championship and ultimately placing fifth in the nation.
The 2025–26 Vikings have built an impressive season of their own. The team finished the regular season ranked No. 19 in the nation and holds a 27-4 overall record under third-year head coach and two-time NTJCAC Coach of the Year Steve Lowe.
Grayson dominated conference play, finishing 15-1 and claiming the outright NTJCAC Conference Championship for the first time in 15 years.
During the Region V Tournament, the Vikings defeated No. 12 New Mexico Junior College and No. 17 McLennan Community College to advance to the championship game, ultimately finishing as the Region V Runner-Up to No. 8 Clarendon College.
The team’s success on the court has also been reflected in several individual honors:
- Jaycee Ingram - NTJCAC Freshman of the Year; NTJCAC All-Conference; All-Region V North; 2026 Region V All-Tournament Team
- Madison Martin - NTJCAC Defensive Player of the Year (2x); NTJCAC Honorable Mention All-Conference
- Tahlaya Biglow - NTJCAC All-Conference (2x); All-Region V North
- Susan Fahnbulleh - NTJCAC Honorable Mention All-Conference; 2026 Region V All-Tournament Team
- Fia Filoialii - 2026 Region 5 All-Tournament Team
“This team has believed in each other from day one,” said Head Coach Steve Lowe. “They’ve worked incredibly hard, trusted the process and competed with heart all season. To see them earn a spot in the national tournament is something they absolutely deserve and we’re excited to represent Grayson College and Viking Nation on the national stage.”
The 2026 Credit Union 1 NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, presented by Zurich, will take place March 24–31 at Townsley Law Arena on the campus of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
As Grayson College celebrates 60 years of transforming lives through education, the Vikings’ national tournament berth reflects the college’s commitment to student success in every arena. From the classroom to the court, Grayson College student-athletes continue to demonstrate the determination and excellence that define Viking Nation