NEC Announces Preseason Women's Basketball Poll
Blue Devils tabbed fifth in preseason NEC coaches poll.
The NEC announced the Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll on Monday that tabbed Central Connecticut fifth.
Head coach Kristin Caruso begins her first season at the helm of the Blue Devils and fields a young roster that features nine underclassmen. Central will look to improve on a 10-win conference campaign and two consecutive top-five NEC finishes. Seniors Cierra Pearson and Lucia Noin, along with junior Kayla Henry will return as the squad's most-experienced letterwinners.
After winning the league championship in 2024-25, FDU was the unanimous pick to win the league for the second straight year. Stonehill made its first title game appearance last year and was tabbed second, followed by Chicago State and Le Moyne. CCSU rounded out the top five and is coming off its best finish in the league standings since 2014-15
CCSU begins the 2025-26 campaign on November 3, tipping off at Bryant at 6 p.m. The home opener comes November 13 when Sacred Heart comes to Detrick Gymnasium for a 7:00 pm contest. The complete 2025-26 schedule can be found here.
2025-26 NEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. FDU (unanimous)
2. Stonehill
3. Chicago State
4. Le Moyne
5. CCSU
6. Mercyhurst
7. Wagner
8. LIU
9. New Haven
10. Saint Francis
2025-26 Preseason All-NEC Women's Basketball Team
Eli Clark, LEM, So, G, 5-8, Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township
Aiyanna Culver, CSU (unanimous), So, G, 5-3, Queens, NY/Christ the King
Brooke Paquette, STO (unanimous), Jr. G, 5-8, Hudson, NH/Bishop Guertin
Ava Renninger, FDU (unanimous), So, G, 5-6, Yardley, PA/Archbishop Wood
Jenna Van Schaik, MU, Sr, G, 5-7, Cincinnati, OH/Ursuline Academy
