GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas office released the 2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll on Thursday, with Chowan University projected to finish inside the top five.

Chowan women's basketball was selected fourth in the preseason poll as the Hawks look to build on the momentum established under Head Coach Lenise Stallings -Frazier During the 2024-25 campaign, Chowan posted an 19-6 overall record and a 15-5 mark in Conference Carolinas play, advancing to the Conference Carolinas Championship semifinals. With a mix of core returners and talented newcomers, the Hawks aim to continue their program's competitive nature this season. Key players to watch include Yasmine Brown, Desiree Askew, Nyeisha Savage.

Francis Marion finished as east division co-champions and tournament runner-up in 2024-25 and received 221 points to sit atop the 2025-26 preseason poll. The Patriots received 11-of-16 first place votes (schools can't vote for themselves). 2024-25 tournament and northwest division champion, Belmont Abbey College is picked second with two first place votes and 199 points. UNC Pembroke and Chowan University each received one first place votes and were picked third and fourth with 192 and 184 points, respectively. Young Harris College rounded out the top five with 178 points.

Shorter University is picked sixth with 155 points, followed by Barton College with 131 points. Emmanuel University came in eighth with 124 points while King University came in ninth with 115 points. Lees-McRae College's 93 points finished the top 10.

Converse University (81), North Greenville University (76), University of Mount Olive (61), Southern Wesleyan University (56), Erskine College (33) and Ferrum College (21) concluded the poll.

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will get underway on Sunday, March 1 and Monday, March 2. The fourth, fifth and sixth seeds in men's and women's basketball will host two games over the two days. The 12th-seeded team will battle the seventh-seeded team on March 1 at the sixth seed for the right to face the sixth seed on March 2. The 11th-seeded team will battle the eighth-seeded team on March 1 at the home of the fifth seed for the right to face the fifth seed on March 2, while the 10th-seeded team will take on the ninth-seeded team at the home of the fourth seed on March 1 for the chance to take on the fourth seed on March 2.

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Basketball Championships quarterfinals are set for Friday, March 6 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The semifinals will be contested on Saturday, March 7, while the men's and women's basketball finals are scheduled for Sunday, March 8.
 

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2025-26 Conference Carolinas
Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
 

	School	Total (First Place)
1	Francis Marion	221 (11)
2	Belmont Abbey	199 (2)
3	UNC Pembroke	192 (1)
4	Chowan	184 (1)
5	Young Harris	178
6	Shorter	155
7	Barton	131
8	Emmanuel	124
9	King	115
10	Lees-McRae	93
11	Converse	81
12	North Greenville	76
13	Mount Olive	61
14	Southern Wesleyan	56
15	Erskine	33
16	Ferrum	21

 

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2025-26 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball
Players to Watch
Barton

• Lauren Mingo, Sr., G, Clinton, Maryland, (2024-25 All-Conference Carolinas second team)
• Leah Hampton, So. G, Richmond, Virginia
• Celeste Bailey, So., G, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Belmont Abbey

• Riley James, Sr., G, Davidsonville, Maryland
• Janiah Shular, Jr., F, Huntersville, North Carolina
• Leigha Dennison, Jr., G, Hilliard, Ohio

Chowan

• Yasmine Brown, Sr., G, Suffolk, Virginia (2024-25 All-Conference Carolinas third team)
• Desiree Askew, Gr., F, Ahoskie, North Carolina
• Nyeisha Savage, Jr., F, Suffolk, Virginia

Converse

• Tatiana Brown, Jr., C, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Madison Fileen, Fr., G, Monroe, New York
• Mazie Helpman, Sr., G, Bryson City, North Carolina

Emmanuel

• Naomi Roberts, Jr., F, Cleveland, Georgia
• Lizzie Teasley, Sr., G, Covington, Georgia
• Hannah Harris, So., G, Ball Ground, Georgia

Erskine

• Albany Wilson, Sr., G, Florence, South Carolina
• Ahrianna Scott, So., G, Anderson, South Carolina
• Angel Oguegbunam, Fr., C, Johannesburg, South Africa

Ferrum

• Breyana Kimmons, Fr., G, Sacramento, California
• Alexsandra Kubiak, Fr., G, Poznan, Poland
• Alyson Cassell, Sr. F, Purcellville, Virginia

Francis Marion

• Kiara Croskey, So., G, Sumter, South Carolina (2024-25 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)
• Trinity Delaney, Jr., C, Columbia, South Carolina
• Tyra Myers, Sr., G, Columbia, South Carolina (2022-23 All-NEC third team)

King

• Le'Aije Ellington, Sr., G, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Jaelyn West, Sr., G/F, Blountville, Tennessee
• Ashley Allen, Gr., G/F, Sterling, Virginia

Lees-McRae

• Kaylee Carson, So., G, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Nadiya Hairston, Jr., G, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• Layla Tillery, Jr., G, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Mount Olive

• Jada Priebe, Sr., F, Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Kayla Jackson, Sr., G, Springville, Utah
• Savannah McAfee, Sr., F, Apopka, Florida

UNC Pembroke

• Anastasia Sinclair, Jr., G, Charlotte, North Carolina (All-Conference Carolinas third team)
• Tiana Spann, Sr., F., Charleston, South Carolina
• Natalie Evington, Jr., G, Red Springs, North Carolina

North Greenville

• Maliyah Mason, Jr., F, West Columbia, South Carolina
• Amiyah Clark-Lamelle, So., PG, Greer, South Carolina
• Janyia Williams, Fr., F, Greenville, South Carolina

Shorter

• Tori Smiley, Sr., G, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Amiya Redus, So., G, Tanner, Alabama
• D'Naylah Williams, Jr., F, Kosciusko, Mississippi

Southern Wesleyan

• Peyton Looky, So., G, Weston, Florida
• Makayla Raines, Jr., G, Jonesboro, Georgia
• Lexie Ransom, So., G, Casper, Wyoming

Young Harris

• Annalise Malone, Sr., F, Fayetteville, Tennessee (2024-25 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, All-Conference Carolinas first team)
• Kamryn Bates, Sr., G, Marietta, Georgia
• Rhiannon Saller, Sr., F, Beecher, Illinois