BOONEVILLE – Brian Middleton’s standard of playing the best possible competition will continue into his second season as the leader of the Northeast Mississippi Community College women’s basketball program.
The Lady Tigers will meet four national tournament participants, including two of the top eight seeds on opening weekend, as part of their 2026-27 schedule.
“We think we’ve put together a schedule that’ll really challenge us, especially early,” said Middleton. “I’m excited to get this thing kicked off. We feel like we’ve got a good group coming in. We’re going to get after it.”
The Lady Tigers start things off at the Kragel Classic for the second year in a row. They will battle Shelton State (Ala.) Community College and host Walters State (Tenn.) Community College from October 30-31.
Shelton State and Walters State are the defending champions from their respective states. It is the first time that Northeast has opened a new season in the month of October since the 2008-09 campaign.
The Lady Tigers play their inaugural home game two days later on November 2nd against Snead State (Ala.) Community College. Northeast also welcomes in Chattanooga State (Tenn.) Community College to close the first full week of the regular season.
Those are the first two of 14 total contests inside legendary Bonner Arnold Coliseum for the Lady Tigers. That is two more than during Middleton’s first year at Northeast.
The Lady Tigers’ longest homestand is only three games. It encompasses the Thanksgiving break starting on November 21st against Coastal Alabama Community College at Monroeville and wraps up on December 3rd when Walters State makes a return trip to Northeast.
A five-game road stretch awaits the Lady Tigers before dismissing for the holidays. That includes a jaunt to the Sunshine State from December 11-12 for matchups against reigning Florida champ Gulf Coast State College and host Pensacola State College.
Northeast has two tune ups before the beginning of league play in the New Year. The Lady Tigers take on visiting Bishop State (Ala.) Community College and Calhoun (Ala.) Community College on January 4th and 7th, respectively.
The 14-game Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) slate gets underway on Monday, January 11 when Northeast travels to Holmes Community College.
It culminates some seven weeks later on the first day of March as the Lady Tigers tangle with East Mississippi Community College. Defending region winner Northwest Mississippi Community College comes to town on January 25th.
