WARREN, Mich. – The 2026-27 home opener is here! Macomb Women's Basketball will look to bounce back on Friday (Nov. 6) when the Monarchs host the Roadrunners of Southwestern Michigan College inside newly renovated Den in Warren. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. with live stream coverage available on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch with Alexander Johnson on the call.
 
After a tough 0-2 start at the Stars Liftoff Classic, the Monarchs will look to rebound against a Roadrunner team that completed a 2-0 weekend to tip-off their season last week. The Monarchs suffered a season-opening loss to No. 12 Lansing Community College on Oct. 30 before dropping a 75-66 decision to Cuyahoga Community College the following day.
 
The Monarchs are 1-1 all-time against the Roadrunners, earning a 75-66 win back on Nov. 4, 2022, before dropping a narrow 48-44 decision last season in Dowagiac on Dec. 12, 2025. 
 
A LOOK AT SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN: The Roadrunners opened the season with a pair of home victories over NJCAA DI opponents Kennedy-King College and Richard J. Daley College. SMC was 9-17 overall and 3-9 in MCCAA Western Conference play a year ago, falling to Marian University Plymouth in the Great Lakes District B Quarterfinals. 
 
Trinity Dale is a returning player to watch for the Roadrunners. A season ago, Dale earned All-Region and All-MCCAA honors and was also tabbed Western Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.1 points per game in 2025-26. This season, Dale leads four Roadrunners averaging double digits per contest with 16.0 points per game.
 
SMC is led by head coach Ariana Dampier. 
 
A LOOK AT MACOMB: Zaena Thacker and Claire O'Brien both had strong debuts for the Navy and White last weekend in Lansing. Thacker tallied seven points and pulled down 14 rebounds in Friday's opener before coming back Saturday to lead all players with an impressive double-double that featured 25 points and 18 rebounds. 
 
O'Brien scored seven points and pulled down five rebounds against in the opener before also recording a double-double Saturday against Cuyahoga. The freshman forward had 16 points and 10 boards in the setback to the Triceratops. 
 
Sami Thomas scored 19 points in 35 minutes Friday before missing Saturday's contest, while MyKenzi Harris opened her sophomore campaign with 12 points Friday and added 10 more points on Saturday. Harris also had seven rebounds and three assists against the Stars and five rebounds and six assists against Cuyahoga. 
 
Thacker is currently leading the team in scoring (16.0 PPG) and rebounding (16.0 RPG) through two games. 
 
LIVE COVERAGE: Friday's game against the Roadrunners will be streamed live on MacombMonarchs.com/Watch. Live stats will be available as well.
 
UP NEXT: The Monarchs host NJCAA Region 12 counterpart Terra State Community College on Tuesday (Nov. 10) from The Den in Warren. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.