NORTHAMPTON - Smith basketball head coach Lynn Hersey has announced a challenging slate of non-conference games for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The six-time reigning NEWMAC Champions will play 12 non-conference games, including matchups with four 2026 NCAA Tournament teams (Immaculata, Bowdoin, Johnson & Wales, Bates).

"We have purposely built a schedule that will serve as one of our greatest tests yet. This winter, we have intensified our strength of schedule by adding two elite, NCAA-built contenders in Bates and Bowdoin to our lineup. Every single night will be a battle, and we designed it that way to prepare us for the ultimate stage."  - Head Coach Lynn Hersey

Fans can catch the Bears inside Ainsworth Gym eight times before NEWMAC play begins, highlighted by the season-opening Tyler Tip-Off Tournament on November 7-8. Smith is also set to face Johnson & Wales University on Satuday, November 21 at home followed by a rematch of the NCAA Second Round game against Bates on Sunday, January 3 inside Ainsworth. 

Overall, the crop of current non-conference foes posted a combined 218-101 record last season for a 68-percent win rate. Only one of the 12 finished under .500. 

November

• After hosting Tyler Tip-off, the Bears will head to Bowdoin College for a midweek game on November 17
• Smith welcomes Johnson & Wales on November 21 followed by a post Thanksgiving road trip to Trinity on November 29

December 

• The Bears head to Cambridge on December for a non-conference meeting with MIT
• Smith faces its third NESCAC opponent of the year on December 9 at Williams to close out the first semester
• The annual Holiday Classic takes place December 30 and 31 against Bridgewater State and Susquehanna

A Packed January Slate

• The Bears will play 10 games in a span of 30 days in January
• Six games will be in the friendly confines of Ainsworth Gymnasium
• Smith will kick off the new year on January 3 when Bates comes to town in a rematch from last year's thrilling NCAA Second Round game
• The Bears hit the road on January 5 at Hamilton before four-straight home games (Springfield, Middlebury, Coast Guard and Tufts)
• Coast Guard will be the NEWMAC opener on January 16 at 2:00pm
• Conference matchups against Mound Holyoke, Salve Regina, Wellesley and Springfield round out the month

February

• The final push of the regular season begins on February 3 against Wheaton before a rematch of the 2026 NEWMAC Championship on February 6 at Clark
• Smith will play Emerson, WPI, and Babson prior to Senior Day on February 20 against MIT

Postseason

• The NEWMAC team that finishes the regular season with the best conference record will earn the top overall seed and be crowned the regular season champions
• The winner of the NEWMAC Tournament receives the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament
• Smith has won six-straight NEWMC Championships

Coming off a 28-2 overall record that included NEWMAC regular season and NEWMAC Tournament titles and a trip to the NCAA Second Round, the Bears return five players who started 15 or more games last season. Smith welcomed a talented crop of five first years to the program, giving the Bears incredible depth heading into the season. 

Follow Along

• Live stats and video of all home and road games will be available via links on GoSmithBears.com
• All home and NEWMAC games will be available on FloCollege

About Smith Athletics Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information, log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow the Bears on Facebook and Instagram.