LIVONIA, Mich. – Macomb Women's Basketball lifted the lid on the 2025-26 campaign in victorious fashion on Saturday (Nov. 1) with a 74-68 win over the Jayhawks of Muskegon Community College in Livonia, Mich. The six-point triumph marked the fourth consecutive season-opening victory for a Monarchs program that has won its first game of a new campaign in 10 out of the last 11 seasons. The Jayhawks entered Saturday receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II Preseason Poll.
 
The Monarchs started the new season strong, shooting out to a 23-9 lead after one quarter of play before taking a 39-25 advantage into the halftime break. The 14-point halftime lead was a product of a decisive 18-0 edge in points off turnovers after the Monarchs forced 18 Jayhawk miscues in the first 20 minutes of action.
 
A'Liyah Forris and MyKenzi Harris combined for 23 points at the half to nearly match the Jayhawks' first half output (25).
 
Third quarter action saw the Jayhawks get to within one possession before Hannah Tamou got fouled on a 3-point attempt in the waning seconds of the frame. Tamou knocked down all three free throws to give the Monarchs a five-point edge entering the fourth quarter.
 
After grabbing momentum back with Tamou's charity stripe tosses, the Monarchs were able to stave off the Jayhawks' comeback bid with a 12-2 run to start the final quarter to secure the six-point victory.
 
Forris and Harris paced the Monarchs with 19 points each with Harris adding a team-high six steals. Asiyah Jihad was the lone player in Saturday's season opener to record a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Janiya McWilliams rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Monarchs with 10 points. Tamou ended her collegiate debut with nine points.
 
The Monarchs return to action next weekend at the Marian University Plymouth Charger Classic. Tip-off for game one is slated for 6 p.m. Friday (Nov. 7) against Kalamazoo Valley Community College.