NMJC Tips Off 2025-26 Season in Hobbs

The NMJC women's basketball team's 2025-26 season tips off against Monroe University Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. MST in Hobbs, NM.

The Thunderbirds begin the year ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA Preseason Poll.

NMJC is coming off a great 2024-25 season that saw the T-Birds win the WJCAC for the 10th time, reach the NJCAA Quarterfinals for the second straight year, and post a 30-4 (12-2). The 30 wins were the most victories in a season since 2018.

The T-Birds lost 10 players from last season's squad including the WJCAC POY Pania Davis (FSU) and the WBCA National Player of the Year Cacia Antonio (UNM). 

This year's team will feature 11 newcomers to the squad with 10 being freshman and one a sophomore transfer. NMJC returns Jada Graves, Bright Eze, Zarai Lewis, Kaycee Steinke, Andrea Lozoya, and Liz Buendia. 

"This is absolutely a new team compared to the last two years, and we will miss our eight players that moved on DI and another that went DII," NMJC women's basketball head coach Austin Mefford said. "We have brought in a group of 11 newcomers to go with our six returners. New team, same goals…. The goals remain the same. We want to compete for a national championship. We were picked second in the WJCAC preseason poll, and our goal is to prove people wrong and change that by the end of the season."   

The Thunderbirds return one starter in Jada Graves. The sophomore guard is going to be the focal point of the offense this season with her endless creativity from the top of the key. 

"I can't say enough about Jada's growth," Coach Mefford said. "First of all, Jada is just a winner, she has been a winner and will continue to be a winner. She has been the leader of this year's team since they all set foot on campus in August. On the court, her game continues to grow and through the preseason regardless of who we have played she has been the best all-around player on the floor in every contest. I look forward to seeing what Jada can lead our team to this season and what she can accomplish individually as well."

NMJC will see a large production from this year's freshman class and Coach Mefford has already seen a couple step up early since their arrival on campus this fall. 

"Our team has a lot of freshmen that will play significant minutes this season and at least two will be in the starting lineup opening night," Coach Mefford said. "A couple of the freshman that have stood out to this point have been Luisa Amaral from Angola. She is athletic and competes in the offensive and defensive ends of the court." 

"We have a new trio of Australians on the team with Addison Edwards and Azaleeah Oloapu leading the way for us with their versatility, size, and strength inside. Another person to look out for would be Rekiah Bowen from Tulsa who comes to us as a wing that can score the ball." 

There will be some growing pains this year with such a young squad out on the floor. Coach Mefford is hoping the non-conference slate can help mature the team quickly before the gauntlet of conference play begins in January. 

"Given we have such a young team, there are going to be ups and downs and bumps along the way as we grow as a team," Coach Mefford said. "I feel like we have challenged our group right out of the gates with two out of the first three opponents having played in the national tournament last year. We have to continue to get more physical and tougher as non-conference goes on to get ready for WJCAC play." 

"Ultimately development as a team and our success will be a big benchmark as we enter conference play in 2026."

The Thunderbirds open the season in Hobbs, NM on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. MST with Monroe University. They will finish the weekend on Monday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. MST against Fort Hays Tech. Fans can catch all home games live on Youtube by clicking here.