Pirates Release 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women' basketball team released its official 2026-27 non-conference schedule on Thursday. The slate features 12 opponents, including at least five that qualified for the 2026 postseason, and seven games in historic Walsh Gymnasium.

"One of our most-challenging in years, this is the type of non-conference schedule that positions us well for a deep March run," said Head Coach Anthony Bozzella. "We can't wait to see our great fans again at our opener on Nov. 3 against Mercyhurst in Walsh Gym. We need them more than ever to come out and cheer this great team on!"

Seton Hall will open the 2026-27 campaign against Mercyhurst on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at Walsh Gymnasium. It'll be the first-ever meeting between the Pirates and the Lakers of the Northeast Conference. Mercyhurst is coming off a 15-17 overall record in 2025-26 and was invited to participate in the WNIT. The Lakers fell to Binghamton in the opening round.

Three days later, The Hall will host another first-time opponent, Indiana State, in Walsh Gym on Friday, Nov. 6. The Sycamores went 10-22 last year and defeated Southern Illinois in the first round before ending their season with a quarterfinal loss to Murray State in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Pirates will host local powerhouse Fairfield in Walsh Gymnasium. The Stags are coming off their third-consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title last year and finished with a sparkling 28-5 overall record. The 11-seeded Stags fell to six-seeded Notre Dame in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Hall is 13-3 all-time against Fairfield and has won the last five games in the all-time series. Most recently, Seton Hall defeated the Stags, 74-44, on Nov. 9, 2019.

After hosting Seton Hall last year, the Wolfpack will visit Walsh Gym this season on Sunday, Nov. 15. NC State earned an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament last year after a 21-11 final record, which included a 13-5 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The Wolfpack defeated 10th-seeded Tennessee in the opening round before falling to second-seeded Michigan in round two. NC State owns a 4-2 all-time series lead over the Pirates, including a 61-53 victory last year in Raleigh.

Seton Hall will return a game to Auburn on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Tigers went 15-17 overall and 3-13 in the Southeastern Conference last year. They edged Texas A&M in the first round of the SEC Tournament, but saw their season end with a 73-57 loss to No. 23 Mississippi in round two. The all-time series between Auburn and Seton Hall is tied 1-1 with the Pirates earning a 69-63 victory in Walsh Gym last season.

Local rival Rider returns to Walsh Gymnasium on Monday, Nov. 23. The Broncs had a tough season in 2025-26, going just 7-22 overall and did not qualify for the MAAC Tournament. Seton Hall has never lost to Rider in 12 all-time meetings. Most recently, The Hall routed the Broncs, 78-40, on Nov. 9, 2022 in South Orange.

Seton Hall will next head to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a pair of games at the 2026 Paradise Jam. The Pirates will first take on the University of South Florida on Thursday, Nov. 26. The Bulls, a former member of the BIG EAST, have won the last 11 games against The Hall, but the teams haven't played since the 2012-13 season. USF is coming off a 20-12 season, which featured a 13-5 mark in American Athletic Conference play.

The Hall will wrap up the tournament with a game against either Baylor or Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 28. The Bears won 25 games in 2025-26 and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions are coming off an 11-18 campaign last season.

The long-time rivalry between Seton Hall and Princeton will be renewed on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in Walsh Gymnasium. The Tigers went 26-4 last season, including a 12-2 mark in the Ivy League. The Tigers won the Ivy League Tournament, and therefore qualified for their seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Princeton fell to 8th-seeded Oklahoma State in the opening round. It'll be the 11th time in the last 12 seasons that the two New Jersey foes have faced off. Although the Pirates own a 13-11 all-time series lead, the Tigers have won seven of the last nine games, including an 82-78 victory last season.

After a three-year absence, the Seton Hall/Rutgers rivalry will continue in 2026-27. The Pirates will head to Piscataway on Tuesday, Dec. 8. After going just 9-20 last season, Rutgers opened a new era this spring, announcing Gary Redus II as their new head coach. The Hall is just 12-36 all-time against the Scarlet Knights, but the series is 4-4 since the 2012-13 season. Most recently, the Pirates defeated Rutgers, 82-63, in Walsh Gym on Nov. 15, 2023.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, the Pirates will head to Levien Gym in New York to face Columbia for the fifth time in the last five years. The all-time series is tied 3-3, but the Lions have won the last three contests. The Pirates' last victory in the series came in the National Quarterfinals of the WNIT on March 28, 2022. Columbia is coming off a terrific 25-8 season, which saw them snubbed from the NCAA Tournament, but go on to win the WNIT. Ivy League and All-Met Player of the Year Riley Weiss returns for the Lions.

Finally, Seton Hall will close out the non-conference portion of its schedule with another local regular, Wagner, on Saturday, Dec. 19. The Seahawks are coming off a 13-17 season in 2025-26 and fell in the second round of the Northeast Conference tournament. The Pirates own an 11-2 all-time series lead against Wagner and have won seven straight. Most recently, The Hall routed the Seahawks, 84-40, on Nov. 7, 2024.

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