SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee women's basketball was selected sixth in the Southern Athletic Association Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office Thursday.
Third-year head coach
Jaylynn Stewart returns three starters and five other letterwinners from last season's team that posted a 12-15 overall record, 4-8 in SAA action.
Seniors
Cydney Wright and
Olivia Falvey and sophomore
Hannah Cleveland all averaged double figures and were the team's three leading rebounders as well, accounting for 58 percent of the team's points and 51 percent of the club's rebounds.
Falvey averaged 16.5 points and 5.8 boards in 26 games with 23 starts. She shot 32 percent from 3-point range, making 46-of-163 from behind the arc. She posted nine games with 20-plus points and two double-doubles after garnering Second Team All-SAA accolades in 2024-25.
Wright registered 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference honors last year. She started all 27 games, netting double-digits in 19 contests with three double-doubles and 11 outings with eight or more boards. She led the team in steals and ranked second in assists.
Cleveland recorded 10.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 27 games with 16 starts, including 12 of the last 13 contests. She posted 15 games in double figures with three double-doubles and 12 outings with seven or more rebounds, garnering Honorable Mention All-SAA recognition as well.
Junior
Brianna Keating-Rendon played in all 27 contests last year, shooting 35 percent (45-for-128) from 3-point range, making the second most triples on the team. Sophomores
Grace Gavin (19 games) and
Elliott Porter (21 contests) each saw significant action in 2024-25, with Gavin averaging double-digit minutes.
Trinity University received four first-place votes and 52 total points for first place in the coaches' poll. Centre College picked up two first-place votes and 46 points for second place while Berry College and Millsaps College tied for third with 37 points, with Millsaps earning a first-place vote.
Oglethorpe University garnered 36 points for fifth place while Sewanee and Rhodes College (also one first-place vote) tied for sixth with 26 points. Southwestern University was eighth with 20 points.
2025-26 SAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Trinity University – 52 (4)
2. Centre College – 46 (2)
t3. Berry College – 37
t3. Millsaps College – 37 (1)
5. Oglethorpe University – 36
t6. Rhodes College – 26 (1)
t6. Sewanee – 26
8. Southwestern University – 20
