NAMPA, Idaho - The Northwest Nazarene women's basketball team will take the court for the first time in the 2026-27 season on Friday as the Nighthawks host Walla Walla University in an exhibition matchup during NNU's Homecoming weekend. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 PM inside the Johnson Sports Center.

The Nighthawks

Northwest Nazarene enters the new campaign following a 17-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in GNAC play during the 2025-26 season. The Nighthawks finished fourth in the conference standings before falling to Western Oregon 68-67 in the quarterfinals of the GNAC Championships.

NNU was picked fifth in the 2026-27 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving one first-place vote and 63 total points. Western Washington was selected as the conference favorite with 93 points, followed by Central Washington with 88, Saint Martin's with 73, and Montana State Billings with 68.

The Nighthawks averaged 70.0 points per game last season while allowing 64.9. NNU shot 39.9 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 8.0 made three-pointers per contest. Defensively, the Nighthawks averaged 11.9 steals per game and forced opponents into 20.6 turnovers per contest.

Northwest Nazarene returns several key contributors from last season, including Kendall Clark, Kelly Garrity, and Chloe Deharo. Clark averaged 10.2 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field across 21 appearances. She started 20 games and recorded 142 rebounds.

Garrity appeared in all 27 games with 22 starts during her freshman campaign, averaging 5.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. She led the Nighthawks with 113 assists and ranked among the GNAC leaders in both assists and steals.

Deharo returns after appearing in seven games last season, averaging 13.0 points per contest while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.

Head coach Steve Steele enters his 11th season leading the Nighthawks. During his tenure, Northwest Nazarene has compiled a 163-99 overall record and a 111-59 mark in GNAC play. Steele has guided NNU to a share of the GNAC regular-season championship in 2017-18 and the conference tournament title in 2019.

The Wolves

Walla Walla enters the 2026-27 season after finishing 3-23 overall and 1-19 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play last year. The Wolves were selected to finish 11th in the CCC Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 18 points. College of Idaho was picked to win the conference with 107 points, followed by Oregon Tech with 101 and Corban with 100.

The Wolves averaged 48.1 points per game last season while allowing 84.8. Walla Walla shot 31.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three-point range while averaging 6.1 made three-pointers per contest. The Wolves also averaged 31.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game.

Walla Walla returns several contributors from last season, including Allison Haslam, Sidney Folkenberg, and Delaney Gunther. Haslam appeared in all 26 games with 21 starts, averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. She also led the Wolves with 53 assists and recorded 25 steals.

Folkenberg started 25 of 26 games last season, averaging 4.9 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per contest. She recorded 148 total rebounds, including 65 on the offensive glass, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field.

Gunther appeared in 25 games with 10 starts, averaging 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while connecting on 16 three-pointers.

Walla Walla enters Friday with an 0-2 record after opening the season with losses to Dakota State and Providence (Mont.). The Wolves fell 97-24 to Dakota State on Oct. 24 before dropping a 73-49 decision to Providence the following day.

Homecoming Weekend

Friday's matchup is part of Northwest Nazarene's 2026 Homecoming festivities, welcoming alumni, families, and supporters back to campus.

The weekend's athletic events continue Saturday with NNU volleyball hosting Central Washington at 1 PM before the men's basketball team takes on Walla Walla at 7 PM. The men's basketball game will also feature the NNU Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony at halftime.

The women's basketball exhibition marks the first opportunity for Nighthawk fans to see the team in action at the Johnson Sports Center this season.

Looking Ahead

Following the Walla Walla exhibition, NNU will travel to Corvallis for a Nov. 11 exhibition against Oregon State. The Nighthawks will then begin regular-season competition with home games against Cal State East Bay on Nov. 13 and Cal Poly Humboldt on Nov. 14.