Cowgirls Head to Lone Star State to Start 2026-27

Las Vegas, New Mexico - The Cowgirls will play their first games of the season will be in Canyon, Texas for the D2CCA Tip Off Classic.
 
COACH FEARING:
Coach Fearing enters her third year as the head coach of the Cowgirls. The Cowgirls finished last season 13-14 overall and 9-11 in conference with a 8-4 home record they finished 9^th overall in the RMAC last season.
 
The 2024-25 season Coach reached the RMAC Tournament with a 13-13 record before falling to Colorado Mesa in the first round on the road. It was the first time in 20 years that a Cowgirls basketball team had reached the postseason.
 
RMAC POLL:
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) released the 2026-27 Preseason Coaches' Poll. New Mexico Highlands received 99 points in the voting by the conference's 15 coaches.
 
Aniya Johnson and Kapiolani Anitielu also both made the Preseason All RMAC Conference team in the voting as well, Johnson finished last season averaging five rebounds per game and 12.8 points per game last season with the Cowgirls. Kapiolani Anitielu averaged 16.4 points per game last season and 6.3 boards per game.
 
 
Roster Breakdown:
Coach Fearing's roster features a fair number of young players but also eight juniors who have competed in the RMAC and can lead this Cowgirls program.
 
 
By Class:
Freshman: 3
Sophomore: 3
Junior: 8
Senior: 0
 
By Home State/Country:
New Mexico: 5
Arizona: 3
Texas: 2
California: 1
Colorado: 1
United Kingdom: 1
Australia: 1

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION:
 
Angelo State:
The Rambelles of Angelo State will be the first team the Cowgirls are set to play on the hardwood. Angelo State was set to take sixth in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) preseason poll this season. Finish last season 15-12 overall last season and made the LSC Tournament. Alesha Ellis is in her sixth season at the helm of the program.
 
Majik Esquivel of the Rambelles was named a player to watch by the Lone star Conference. After earning First Team All-Lone Star Conference honors last season. She was second in the conference with 17.1 points per game
 
 
Northeastern State:
Northeastern State was picked ninth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) coaches' poll for this season. Keith Fergusion is in his third season at the helm of the Riverhawks program in 2025-26 his team opened the season winning 16 of their first 19 their best start in 15 years. They finished the 17-12 season overall and lost in the MIAA tournament but also had home, away and neutral winning record last season.
 
McKenzie Smith returned to the Riverhawks program after leading the scoring averaging 12.1 points and second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game last season.
 
ON THE AIR: The D2CCA Tipoff Classic will air on Flo College. The Cowgirls home games and road RMAC games will be on the RMAC Network.
 
 
GET YOUR TICKETS
Season and single-game tickets for both New Mexico Highlands basketball programs are available for purchase online at NMHUAthletics.com/Tickets.
 
 
Gameday Reminders:

NMHU is a cashless campus; all purchases must be made using Debit, Credit, or Mobile

NMHU has implemented a strict Clear Bag Policy for all on-campus events.

No outside food or drink is permitted at The Wilson Center.

No pets are allowed at The Wilson Center.