PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island College has been selected as the favorite in the 2026-27 Little East Conference (LEC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, collecting five first-place votes and 61 points. Defending conference champion University of Southern Maine finished just one point behind the Anchorwomen with 60 points and the remaining four first-place votes.

UMass Boston placed third with 43 points, narrowly ahead of Eastern Connecticut State University with 42 points and Keene State College with 40 points. WestConn finished sixth with 28 points, followed by UMass Dartmouth with 25 points, Plymouth State University with 17 points and Vermont State University Castleton with eight points.

Rhode Island College returns LEC Defensive Player of the Year Abby Wager, who also earned First Team All-LEC and All-Defensive Team honors last season. Wager averaged 14.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while leading the conference with 55 blocked shots. The Anchorwomen finished 21-6 overall and 14-2 in conference play, advancing to the LEC championship game. Shalyn Smith, Eva Monahan and Jaina Yekelchik also return, while University of Hartford transfer Lauren Sabia joins the program.

Southern Maine enters the season as the defending LEC regular-season and tournament champion after going 15-1 in conference play and defeating Rhode Island College 71-54 in the championship game for its first tournament title since 2013. The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007, defeating Johnson & Wales 62-46 in the first round and Bowdoin 67-59 in the second round. Southern Maine’s run ended with a 66-45 loss to Wisconsin-La Crosse in the third round, completing a 27-3 season.

Shea Kimball will serve as interim head coach this season after joining Southern Maine’s coaching staff as a student assistant in 2022-23 and serving as associate head coach in 2025-26. He returns a group led by First Team All-LEC guard Lucy Wiles and LEC Tournament Most Outstanding Player Dakota Shipley. Izzy Morelli and Emma Stred also return, while newcomers Paolla Uwase, Evie Pirie and Avery Burkholder join the lineup. The Huskies will look to replace All-American and LEC Player of the Year Jaycie Christopher, along with Avah Ingalls and Liz Cote.

UMass Boston looks to build on a 14-12 season under head coach Heather Jacobs. Madison Haggett returns after averaging 11.3 points per game and connecting on 43 3-pointers last season, while Sabanna Berrios contributed 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. Hialeah Turner-Foster and Jordis Tautalatasi also return for the Beacons. Newcomers Kristina Bruce, Maya Henry, Gabbie Gerrodette, Emma Smith and Aluel Tong add to the roster.

Eastern Connecticut returns First Team All-LEC selection Marissa Nudd and reigning LEC Rookie of the Year Maddie Topa under head coach Mandy King. Topa averaged 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during her first collegiate season. Liv Cassesse, Nevaeh King and Kat Novak also return for the Warriors, who finished 9-17 overall and 6-10 in conference play. Nevaeh Clark, Paige Fourtin and Mia Pisciotti join the returning core.

Keene State welcomes back First Team All-LEC guard Brynn Rautiola and All-Defensive Team selection Ruby Dasaro after finishing 19-10 overall and 11-5 in conference play. Head coach Keith Boucher’s Owls add freshmen Kelsey LaMay, Amaya Spadola and Tori Kelly as they look to replace Second Team All-LEC selection Valerie Liuzzi and fellow contributor Avery Stewart.

WestConn returns an experienced frontcourt under head coach Maria Conlon following a 10-15 season that included a 5-11 conference record. Fatima Barrie, Gianna Castellano, Elise Chanka, Julyssa Patterson and Niya Taylor return for the Wolves. Franklin Pierce University transfer Janaya Prince-Baquero joins a large incoming class as WestConn blends returning post play with a young backcourt.

UMass Dartmouth enters the season under head coach Matt Ducharme after finishing 11-16 overall and 7-9 in conference play. Amanda Ebenezer and Shelby Companion lead the returning group, while newcomer Ashya Dingle joins the Corsairs. UMass Dartmouth will look to replace Second Team All-LEC selections Melanie DeMeo and Yasmine Santos, along with All-Defensive Team honoree Kasey Oliver.

Plymouth State returns senior Ashley Stephens, who averaged 10 points and four rebounds per game, and sophomore Macy Swormstedt, who contributed eight points, four rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Genna Bolduc, Alex White, Avery Fuller, Kaley Goodhart and Torle Adumene also return under head coach Curtis Arsenault. Newcomer Sydney Gerossie joins the Panthers, who finished 10-15 overall and 3-13 in conference play.

Vermont State Castleton brings back Arianna Coombs, Schuylar Nolan and Isabelle Cole under head coach Jessica Turner. Coombs averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while Nolan contributed 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest. The Spartans finished 7-18 overall and 3-13 in conference play and welcome Brianna Burnell, along with returning players Kyrielle Deuso and Nevaeh Camp.

2026-27 LEC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Rhode Island College – 61 (5)

2. Southern Maine – 60 (4)

3. UMass Boston – 43

4. Eastern Connecticut – 42

5. Keene State – 40

6. WestConn – 28

7. UMass Dartmouth – 25

8. Plymouth State – 17

9. Vermont State Castleton – 8