DETROIT (12-3-25) – The Detroit Mercy women's basketball team opens the #HLWBB season with a pair of games against Cleveland State and IU Indy. The Titans and Vikings tip off on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m., followed by the Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live from Dick Vitale Court at Calihan Hall on ESPN+ with Matt Kibby (play-by-play) and Tara Fricke (analyst) on the call.

A look at the Vikings:
• Cleveland State is 7-1 on the season after going 3-0 in the CSU Invitational.
• Last season, CSU finished the regular season 27-10 overall and third in league play at 14-5. CSU fell to No. 2 seed PFW in the 2025 #HLWBB Championship semifinals.
• Graduate Student guard and 2025-26 #HLWBB Preseason Play of the Year Colbi Maples leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg).
• Redshirt senior forward Madison Royal-Davis leads the team in rebounds per game (6.0)
• Redshirt junior guard Jada Lenard leads the team in assists per game (2.6).
 
All-Time Series:
• Detroit Mercy leads the all-time series 42-31, but the Vikings won all three meetings last season, with the final one coming in the quarterfinals of the 2025 #HLWBB Championships.
• UDM's win over first-place CSU during the 2023-24 season snapped a six-game skid against the Vikings.
 
A win would…
• Snap a three-game skid against the Vikings and snap a five-game skid this season.
• Give the Titans their third consecutive #HLWBB season-opening win.
 
Scouting the Jaguars:
• IU Indy is 3-5 overall and 0-1 in #HLWBB play on the season.
• Last season, CSU finished the regular season 9-21 overall and seventh in league play at 8-12.
• Junior guard Nevaeh Foster leads the team in scoring (16.3 ppg).
• Junior guard/forward Hailey Smith leads the team in rebounds per game (5.9) and assists per game (2.7).
 
All-Time Series:
• IU Indy leads the all-time series 11-3, but the Titans have two of the last three meetings, including a series split last season.
• With the 64-59 win over IU Indy during the 2023-24 season, Detroit Mercy recorded their 16th regular-season win, which was the highest win total since the 2016-17 season. The win also earned the No. 6 seed in the 2024 Barbasol #HLWBB Championship, which is the highest seed since the Titans were a No. 3 seed in the 2017 HL Tournament and advanced to the championship game against Green Bay.
 
A win would…
• Give UDM their third win over the Jaguars over the last four games.
 
Last Time Out:
Game 6 - Detroit Mercy 55 vs Eastern Michigan 64 - Nov. 30, 2025:
For the second consecutive game, graduate student Nisea Burrell scored in double figures with a team-best and Titan career-high 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while junior Makayla Jackson added 14 points, going 6-for-13 with three steals as Detroit Mercy's second-half rally came up short in a 64-55 setback to Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Calihan Hall. Graduate student Jasmine Edwards was the third Titan in double figures with 11 points, going 5-for-6 from the free throw line with four boards, a steal, and a block. Graduate student Aaliyah McQueen chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
 
After trailing 32-20 at halftime, Detroit Mercy (1-5) made their move in the third quarter. Jackson's layup pulled the Titans within three points, 40-37, with 1:53 left. After EMU scored the next five points, she hit a buzzer-beater as UDM outscored EMU (4-3) 19-13 overall in the frame to pull within six points at 45-39.
 
In the fourth quarter, Edwards and Burrell each sank a pair of free throws, cutting the deficit to five points, 50-45, with 3:28 to go. EMU then extended their lead to nine points with consecutive buckets before senior Myonna Hooper added a layup to trail by seven points. The Eagles one against answered with a layup, followed by a layup from Edwards, keeping the Titans' deficit at seven points with 1:22 to go. With time being short, the Titans elected to foul to extend the game. UDM got layups from Burrell and Hooper, but EMU went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch, holding the Titans at bay, sealing the win.
 
Inside Force:
• Graduate student Jasmine Edwards has been a force down low for the Titans so far.
• Leads the team in scoring (12.0 ppg), field goal percentage with a blistering 58.3% and rebounds per game (5.2).
• Ranked second in the nation in FG% (78.9) through the first two games of the season.
• Reached double digits for the third straight game, scoring a team-high 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line with eight rebounds vs CMU (11/19).
• Led the Titans scoring in double figures for the second straight game with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting with six rebounds at Toledo (11/16).
• Posted a Titan career-high 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting and 3-for-5 from the free throw line, with seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal, leading UDM in a win over former Horizon League foe Valparaiso (11/8).
 
Get to the Charity Stripe:
• Detroit Mercy ranks third in the Horizon League in free throw attempts per game (21.33 – 54th Nationally) and free throw made per game (14.00 – 88th Nationally).
• UDM shot a season-best 21-for-25 (84.0%) from the free throw line vs No. 6 Michigan (11/26).
 
Crash the Boards:
• UDM has grabbed 10 or more offensive rebounds in two games this season: 14 vs Valpo (11/8) and 12 at Toledo (11/19).
 
All-Around Burrell:
Graduate student Nisea Burrell leads the team in assists per game (2.0), steals per game (2.0), and is second in field goal percentage (60.0).
• Posted double figures over the last three consecutive games.
• Scored in double figures with a team-best and Titan career-high 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting vs EMU (11/30).
• Scored 13 points on 3-for-6 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line with two steals against No. 6 Michigan (11/26).
 
Miss Jackson on Point:
• Junior Makayla Jackson ranks second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg).
• Posted a team-high 14 points while matching a career-best five steals defensively at Wisconsin (11/23).
• Scored 16 points with four boards, two steals, and one assist in UDM's win vs Valpo (11/8).
 
Mighty Mya:
• Sophomore Maya Anderson has earned her way into the starting lineup over the last three games.
• Posted a career-high 11 points, going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe and 2-for-3 from 3-point range vs No. 6 Michigan (11/26).
• Just missed reaching double figures with nine points and four rebounds in her first career start at Wisconsin (11/23).
 
Dub-Dub:
• Graduate student Aaliyah McQueen, known to the team as "Q", posted a double-double with 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting with two triples, while grabbing a Titan career-best 16 rebounds, with two assists, a block, and a steal in a win at Valpo (11/8).
• Last season, she led the team with five double-doubles.
 
Swiss Army Q:
• Although McQueen's scoring has been down, she still leads the team in 3-pointers made (7) and is finding other ways to contribute on both ends of the court.
• She leads the team in assists (1.8) and blocks (0.7), tied for second in steals (1.7), and ranks second in rebounds (4.8).
 
McQueen Named to 2025-26 #HLWBB Preseason All-League First Team:
• McQueen was named to the 2025-26 #HLWBB Preseason All-League First Team as voted on by the league coaches and announced by the league office (10/9).
 
Crack Open a 4-Pack:
• UDM had four players each reach double figures in the season-opening win.
• Valparaiso (11/8) – Edwards (19 pts.), Jackson (16 pts.), McQueen (15 pts.), Anderson (10 pts.).
• During the 2024-25 campaign, UDM had four players each reach double figures in six games.
 
Mas-THREE-iano:
• Sophomore Addisen Mastriano posted a career-best six points, draining her first two career triples in UDM's win vs Valpo (11/8).
 
Return of the MAC:
• For the third consecutive season, Detroit Mercy played three teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
• The Titans opened at Toledo (11/16), followed Central Michigan (11/19) and will conclude against Eastern Michigan (11/30).
• Over the last three seasons, UDM is 5-4 over MAC foes.
 
2025-26 #HLWBB Preseason Poll:
• Detroit Mercy was picked to finish seventh in the 2025-26 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll with 59 points.
• Last season, the Titans finished sixth in the regular season for the second straight year, which was two spots ahead of being picked eighth in the 2024-25 Under Armour #HLWBB Preseason Poll.
 
All in the Family:
• A dynamic sister duo has arrived as Aaliyah McQueen and the Titans welcome incoming freshman Rayven McQueen to the squad.
 
Squad Breakdown: The Titans will take the floor this season with eight returners and seven newcomers, totaling 15 student-athletes.
Returning Starters (4):
1 Aaliyah McQueen (Gr.) – G
2 Junior Makayla Jackson (Jr.) – G
4 Myonna Hooper (Sr.) – G
23 Jasmine Edwards (Gr.) – F/C
 
Other Returners (4):
3 Anna Lassan (So.) – G
5 Maya Anderson (So.) – F
41 Addisen Mastriano (So.) – C
12 Amaya Burch (Jr.) – F
 
Newcomers (7):
0 Nisea Burrell (Gr.) – G
11 Kailee Davis (Gr.) – G
13 Brendha Schwartz (Jr.) – G/F
14 Allison Basye (Sr.) – G/F
15 Naïma Diawara (Fr.) – F
21 Rayven McQueen (Fr.) – G/F
22 Cameron McMaster (Fr.) – F/C
 
Class Breakdown:
Graduate Students – 4
Seniors – 2
Juniors – 3
Sophomores – 3
Freshmen – 3
 
Where You From?
Michigan (7) – Maya Anderson, Kailee Davis, Jasmine Edwards, Myonna Hooper, Anna Lassan, Aaliyah McQueen, Rayven McQueen
Indiana (1) – Addisen Mastriano
Ohio (1) – Allison Basye
New Jersey (1) – Amaya Burch
Pennsylvania (1) – Nisea Burrell
Virginia (1) – Makayla Jackson
 
International Flavor: This year's squad features three student-athletes from two different countries.
Brazil (1) – Brendha Schwartz
Canada (2) – Naïma Diawara (Quebec), Cameron McMaster (Alberta)
 
The Haffey Era Begins:
Kiefer Haffey was promoted to head coach of the women's basketball team in April 2025.
 
Haffey joined the Detroit Mercy program three years ago as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He was elevated to associate head coach this past year and now takes over the reins as the 15th head coach in school history.
 
Prior to his arrival at UDM, he served as head coach of the women's basketball team at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
 
Over the past three years, Haffey has helped change and shape the culture and perception of a program that had won just 11 games in five years. Since his arrival, Detroit Mercy has won 37 victories in the last three seasons, including back-to-back wins in the postseason.
 
During the 2024-25 season, Haffey helped the Titans to a 15-15 record, with eight wins in league play. Detroit Mercy tied for fifth place and downed Milwaukee in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.
 
In 2023-24, his second year on the staff, the Titans finished 17-16, securing their first winning campaign since 2016-17. UDM's nine conference wins were also the most since 2017 as the red, white, and blue took down regular-season champion Cleveland State and third-place Purdue Fort Wayne during the regular season.
 
During his tenure, three UDM players earned All-Conference honors: Irene Murua in 2024 and Emaia O'Brien and Aaliyah McQueen in 2025. In addition, three Titans were also named to the All-Freshmen Team: Amaya Burch, Paris Gilmore, and Kailey Starks.
 
Coaching Staff Promotions:
• Assistant Coaches Juanita Cochran and Antonio Capaldi have been elevated to Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Player Development, respectively.
 
Staff Additions:
• Kevin Mondro '97 joins the staff as an Assistant Coach, Kayla Bridges joins the staff as an Assistant Coach/Director of Basketball Operations, and Tania Davis also joins the staff as an Assistant Coach.
• Former student-athletes Emaia "Biggie" O'Brien and Latifa Amzil will serve as Graduate Assistant Coaches.
 
2024-25 Was Another Impactful Season:
80's & 90's Throwback:
• Detroit Mercy's impeccable start to the 2024-25 season had not been seen in the program since the 1980's and 1990's.
• The Titans started the season 12-5 for the first time in 28 years since the 1996-97 season.
• UDM's thrilling win over Milwaukee and Metro Series win over Oakland moved the Titans to 6-3 to start #HLWBB play for the first time 2016-17 season.
• The 67-59 New Year's Day win over IU Indy moved UDM to a 4-0 start in #HLWBB play for the first time since the 1996-97 season and 10-2 overall to start a season for the first time in 45 years since the 1979-80 season.
• UDM's triplicate of road wins at RMU (12/28), YSU (12/18) and Valpo (12/21) moved the Titans to a 9-2 start to the season for the first time in 43 years since the 1981-82 season.
• The win over Cleary (12/8) moved UDM to a 6-1 start for the first time in 45 years since the 1979-80 season.
• With the #HLWBB season-opening win over Wright State (12/4), the Titans were 5-1 to start the season for the first time in 39 years since the 1985-86 season.
• UDM's win over Eastern Michigan (11/26) moved the Titans to 4-1 to begin the season for the first time in 38 years since the 1986-87 season.
 
Racked Up More Milestones:
• Detroit Mercy's 54-52 last-second win on Jan. 18 was the Titans' first road win at Milwaukee since an 89-79 decision on Jan. 28, 2016.
• UDM's 67-59 Metro Series win over arch-rival Oakland was their second win over the last three games against the Golden Grizzlies.
• The Titans' 66-58 win at RMU was the Titans' sixth consecutive win over the Colonials.
• UDM's 79-71 win at Valparaiso snapped a 3-game skid, giving the Titans their first win over the Beacons since an 85-60 decision on Dec. 29, 2016.
• The Titans' 67-55 win over WSU snapped a 14-game skid against the Raiders since a 71-52 decision in the #HLWBB Tournament on Mar. 6, 2017.
• With the 72-61 win over Eastern Michigan, the Titans completed the 3-0 season sweep of all three opponents from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in EMU, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green.
• The victory also gave UDM its second consecutive win over EMU for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• UDM's 73-62 win over Western Michigan marked the first time the Titans defeated the Broncos in consecutive games since the 2012-13 season.
• The Titans' win over BGSU snapped a 10-game skid against Head Coach Kate Achter's alma mater and was the first win over the Falcons since a 67-62 decision on Nov. 20, 2002.
 
Season Rewind:
Game 5 - Detroit Mercy 53 vs No. 6 Michigan 102 - Nov. 26, 2025:
Graduate student Nisea Burrell scored a Titan career-best 13 points on 3-for-6 shooting and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, while sophomore Maya Anderson added a career-high 11 points, going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe as Detroit Mercy fell 102-53 to No. 6 Michigan on Wednesday evening at Calihan Hall. UDM shot a season-best 21-for-25 (84.0%) from the free throw line.
 
Sophomore Anna Lassan chipped in with seven points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line with a team-high five rebounds, while junior Makayla Jackson had six points, going 2-for-2 from the foul line. Freshman Naïma Diawara connected on her first career triple while Aaliyah McQueen dished out four assists.
 
Game 4 - Detroit Mercy 63 at Wisconsin 81 - Nov. 23, 2025:
Detroit Mercy had three players in double figures, led by junior Makayla Jackson, who posted a team-high 14 points while matching a career-best five steals defensively as the Titans hung tough with Wisconsin in an 81-63 setback on the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon. Graduate student Aaliyah McQueen added 12 points with two steals, while graduate student Nisea Burrell scored a Titan career-high 10 points with two assists, two steals, and three boards.
 
Sophomore Maya Anderson just missed reaching double figures with nine points and four rebounds, while freshman Naïma Diawara had a breakout performance with a season-high seven points and a team-best six boards.
 
Detroit Mercy (1-3) recorded 11 steals for the second consecutive game and caused 19 Wisconsin (6-1) turnovers. The Titans were aggressive on the offensive end, taking the ball to the basket and getting to the free-throw line, where they made 17-of-25 attempts (68%) compared to 7-of-12 (58.3%) for the Badgers.
 
3-point shooting proved to be the difference as Wisconsin shot 12-for-27 (44.4%), including 5-for-6 in the fourth quarter, while UDM went 4-for-21 from long range.
 
Game 3 - Detroit Mercy 54 vs Central Michigan 87 - Nov. 19, 2025:
Graduate student Jasmine Edwards continued her stellar start to the season, reaching double digits for the third straight game, scoring a team-high 18 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line with eight rebounds as Detroit Mercy has no answer for Central Michigan's hot shooting from the field in a 87-54 setback on Wednesday night at Calihan Hall.
 
Junior Makayla Jackson had seven points while senior Myonna Hooper also added seven points, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Graduate student Nisea Burrell chipped in with six points while dishing a team-high four assists with two steals. Sophomore Anna Lassan also added six points.
 
For the game, Central Michigan (3-1) shot a blistering 13-for-25 (52.0%) from long range while going 33-for-61 (54.1%) overall and 8-for-10 from the free throw line (8-for-10). Conversely, Detroit Mercy (1-2) struggled, only shooting 18-for-64 (28.1%) from the field and 3-for-15 (20.0%) from 3-point range. The Titans did shoot a season-best 15-for-21 (71.4%) from the free-throw line.
 
Game 2 - Detroit Mercy 52 at Toledo 66 - Nov. 16, 2025:
For the second straight game, graduate student Jasmine Edwards led Detroit Mercy in scoring with 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting with six rebounds as the Titans shot 56.8% (21-for-37) from the field and 50.0 % from 3-point range (3-for-6) but couldn't get over the hump with a 66-52 setback at Toledo on Sunday afternoon at Savage Arena.
 
Three Titans (1-1) had seven points in graduate student Nisea Burrell, sophomore Anna Lassan, senior Myonna Hooper, and sophomore Maya Anderson. Junior Brendha Schwartz chipped in with four points, while graduate student Aaliyah McQueen and freshman Naïma Diawara each had two points.
 
Despite Detroit Mercy's hot shooting from the floor and long range, Toledo (1-2) had 26 points off 22 Titan turnovers and went 18-for-26 (69.2%) from the free throw line compared to 7-for-17 (41.2%) for UDM, which proved to be the difference.
 
Detroit Mercy Rolls Past Beacons in Second Half to Secure Haffey's First Titan Win
Game 1 - Detroit Mercy 78 vs Valparaiso 48 - Nov. 8, 2025:
Graduate student Jasmine Edwards posted a Titan career-high 19 points on 8-for-11shooting with seven rebounds and two assists, while graduate student Aaliyah McQueen added a double-double with 15 points, a Titan career-best 16 rebounds, and two dimes to lead Detroit Mercy to a 78-48 season-opening win over Valparaiso on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. This also marked the first Titan victory for Head Coach Kiefer Haffey.
 
Junior Makayla Jackson scored 16 points with four boards, while sophomore Maya Anderson was the fourth player in double figures, adding a career-high 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Senior Myonna Hooper chipped in with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Sophomore Addisen Mastriano had six points, draining her first two career triples, while graduate student Nisea Burrell had three points, three rebounds, and three steals in her Titan debut.
 
For the Kiddos:
Exhibition Game: Detroit Mercy 86 vs Lawrence Tech 50 - Nov. 3, 2025
For the third consecutive season, Mercy hosted Lawrence Tech as part of Field Trip Day, where the Titans welcomed students from multiple grade schools in the Metro Detroit area as a way to give back to the community.