St. Francis (IL) 57, Governors State 46
Nov. 15 | University Park, Ill.
GovState opened CCAC play with a hard-fought home matchup against undefeated St. Francis. The Jaguars stayed within striking distance for most of the night, trailing just 32–29 at halftime behind a dominant offensive showing from Tykara Harrison, who poured in 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Le’lani Harris added 16 points, and Symone Harrell pulled down 10 rebounds as the Jaguars matched the Saints on the glass, 51–51. A slow third quarter proved costly, with St. Francis outscoring GovState 10–7 and building a cushion they held onto late. Despite outworking the Saints on the boards and getting another strong defensive effort from the frontcourt, GovState couldn’t overcome 22 turnovers and dropped its CCAC opener.
Governors State 100, Mount Mary 28
Nov. 19 | University Park, Ill.
Four days later, the Jaguars delivered one of the most complete performances in program history, hitting the 100-point mark and overwhelming Mount Mary from start to finish. GovState exploded for a 32-5 first quarter, forced 20 turnovers, and shot 46 percent from the field while holding the Blue Angels to just 11 percent. Cencere McDaniel led with an efficient 20 points and 5 assists, while Jabrea Lacaze turned in a standout all-around performance with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks off the bench. GovState showcased its depth, with 11 players scoring, including double-digit outputs from Izzy Agredano (12), Alexis Warren (10), and Davina Smith (11). The Jaguars controlled the tempo, dominated the glass 62–41, and picked up their second conference win in convincing fashion.
Rio Grande 84, Governors State 62
Nov. 21 | Rio Grande, Ohio
GovState hit the road for a tough non-conference matchup against an undefeated Rio Grande squad and battled through a high-pressure, physical game. Cencere McDaniel led all Jaguars with 24 points and shot 9-of-15 from the field, while Alayah Sprattling added 15 points. Davina Smith contributed an 11-point, 9-rebound effort as GovState worked to stay within range throughout the second half. Rio Grande controlled the free-throw line and second-chance opportunities, outscoring GovState by 13 at the line and finishing with a 51–35 advantage on the boards. Despite shooting over 41 percent, the Jaguars struggled to cut the deficit after halftime and fell to 5–3 overall.
Shawnee State 64, Governors State 59
Nov. 22 | Portsmouth, Ohio
In the second game of the back-to-back road swing, GovState bounced back with one of its grittiest efforts of the young season. The Jaguars opened strong with a 19-15 first quarter and stayed tight throughout a defensive-heavy matchup. Cencere McDaniel knocked down a pair of threes in the opening period, while early bench scoring from Kennedy White helped GovState push momentum. Shawnee State edged ahead in the middle quarters and held off a final Jaguars push despite a 23-point fourth quarter from GovState. The game stayed within single digits throughout, but late offensive rebounds and second-chance points swung the final possessions in favor of the Bears.
Across this four-game stretch, GovState showed flashes of its ceiling, high-efficiency scoring, rebounding toughness, and meaningful contributions from both starters and reserves. The Mount Mary win highlighted the team’s depth, while the road trip demonstrated the group’s resilience in back-to-back competitive environments. With continued growth in ball security, defensive consistency, and late-game execution, the Jaguars remain well-positioned heading into deeper conference play.