In his first season at the helm, head coach Jon Plefka leads the UMass Lowell women’s basketball program into the 2025–26 campaign focused on communication and steady growth. With a roster split evenly between returners and newcomers, the River Hawks look to establish a foundation that reflects those principles from day one.

Building the Foundation

Since his arrival, Plefka and his staff have emphasized culture and consistency, setting a tone centered on effort  and shared responsibility. That approach has guided the team through summer workouts and into preseason as the River Hawks continue developing their identity.

“It’s the blue-collar mentality of our program, but also of our city of Lowell,” said Plefka. “It’s about being hard-working and selfless, and we’ve done that from the summer into the preseason.”

Experienced Core Returns

Seven River Hawks return to the lineup this season, bringing familiarity and leadership to a roster otherwise full of fresh faces.

Junior Maddie Rice (Charlottesville, Va.) appeared in 26 games last year, averaging 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior Amina Kameric (Seattle, Wash.) started 16 contests, while sophomores Nia Chima (Toronto, Ontario), Jennah Johnson (Woodbridge, N.J.), Emina Kameric (Seattle, Wash.), Carla Subirats (Barcelona, Spain), and senior Sophie Baydanov (Vienna, Austria) also return after contributing during the 2024–25 campaign.

Together, the returning group provides experience across multiple positions as the team transitions into its new era.

Early Tests Ahead

The River Hawks open the season on Monday, November 3, hosting Saint Anselm in a Kennedy Family Athletic Center doubleheader alongside the men’s team. The schedule features several early road contests that will test a roster still coming together under a new system.

“We want to see what we’re made of right away,” said Plefka. “Our expectations will always be high regardless of what the successes were in the past. But it’s all about being 1-0. That’s our mentality on a daily basis.”

Defining the Identity

As the season begins, Plefka says the team’s story is still taking shape — but its direction is clear.

“Our story is still unwritten,” he said. “We’re getting better each day, which is our focus. We’re focusing on the process of what we do best on a daily basis.”

The River Hawks open the 2025–26 season with a renewed focus and a foundation in place — ready to define their story one game at a time.