BUFFALO, N.Y. – New faces in new places is the theme for the 2025–26 Buffalo State women's basketball program, as new head coach Scott Foster and assistant coach Brooke Woodard bring renewed energy and direction to the Bengals.

"As a first-year head coach, the goal is to bring a competitive atmosphere, team accountability, and a fresh identity to the program," Foster said. "We want our players to own the process and believe in what we're trying to build here. So far, they've bought into the initial steps, but we still have a lot to do to establish that identity and create a new culture surrounding the women's basketball program—both within the department and the conference."

After finishing 5–20 (2–16 SUNYAC) last season, the Bengals look to Foster and his staff to continue elevating the program's trajectory as they chase their first SUNYAC Tournament appearance since 2022.

With the departure of their top three scorers to graduation, the Bengals turns to its returning core to take on expanded roles. Leading that group is senior guard Chyann Kelly (Bailey, CO/Platte Canyon), who averaged 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season. Joining her is junior forward Mya Brown (Buffalo, NY/Frontier), who contributed 4.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. "The returning players have embraced the new system and are eager to leave their legacy for this new era of Buffalo State women's basketball," Foster said. "We're excited to see where the season takes us and who emerges as our leaders both on and off the court."

Additional returners expected to make an impact include Morgan Popp (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home), who appeared in all 25 games last year, along with Aniya Tucker (New York, NY/Cathedral) and Tania Tyler-Wilson (Bronx, NY/Fannie Lou Hamer).

Seven newcomers, both freshmen and transfers, join the roster this season, continuing the theme of fresh faces throughout the program. "'New' is the word that comes to mind when discussing this year's roster," Foster said. "Whether it's new faces or new roles, not only at the player level, but obviously at the staff level as well."

Key newcomers to watch include sophomore guard Amya Moore (Hudson, NY/Hudson), junior forward Imani McNeil (Schenectady, NY/Colonie), and senior guard Naya Haymon (Homewood, IL/Homewood-Flossmoor).

The Bengals opens the 2025 season tomorrow at Alfred University at 5:00 p.m. The Bengals then travel to Nazareth University for a matchup with the Golden Flyers on Friday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m., before returning to the Sports Arena on Wednesday, November 19th for their home opener against Keuka College.

SUNYAC play begins December 5th on the road at SUNY Potsdam. The SUNYAC Tournament is set for February 24–28, as the Bengals push toward their first postseason appearance in three seasons.