Rock Hill, SC - The South Atlantic Conference has released the Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, Preseason All-Conference, and Players to Watch for the 2025 season, with Lincoln Memorial landing in the 7th place position in the preseason poll and two players earning a shot in the preseason all-conference team. 

Forward Kamil Collier and Guard Alexa Smiddy were selected to the preseason all-conference first team. 

Collier was a key contributor in the paint for the Lady Railsplitters last season, ranking fifth in the South Atlantic Conference with 169 defensive rebounds and 76 offensive rebounds, averaging 8.8 rebounds per game. She started all 28 games, averaging 34.1 minutes per game, ranking fourth in the SAC. The forward earned SAC Third Team All-Conference honors in the 2024-2025 season, with her season highs being 22 points at Carson-Newman on January 8th and 17 rebounds against Converse on November 9th. 

Smiddy was a major threat from beyond the arc during the 2024–25 season, ranking third in the South Atlantic Conference with 66 made three-pointers and a 41 percent three-point shooting percentage, also third in the SAC. The guard started all 28 games for the Lady Railsplitters, averaging 38.3 minutes per game. Her efforts earned her SAC Second Team All-Conference honors, with her season highs being 32 points against Carson-Newman, which included a season-high seven made three-pointers. 

LMU was voted seventh in the coaches' poll, with Coker earning the first place vote. Lincoln Memorial is looking to build from last year as their season ended in the SAC Tournament Quarterfinals to Carson-Newman.

The Lady Railsplitters will open up their season at home this year as they host the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge, playing King on November 14th and Converse on November 15th. 

The full Coaches' Poll, Preseason All-Conference Teams, and Players to Watch can be found below.

2025-26 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank           School (First Place Votes)        Score
1.                Coker (9)                                  129
2.                Carson-Newman (2)                117
3.                Wingate                                   107
4.                Anderson (1)                            106
5.                Lenoir-Rhyne                           89
6.                Catawba                                  85
7.                Lincoln Memorial                     77
8.                UVA Wise                                58
9.                Newberry                                45
10.              Tusculum                                43
11.              Emory & Henry                       37
12.              Mars Hill                                 31
 
2025-26 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference

Shawnteanna Tillman, Coker
Jennifer Sullivan, Carson-Newman
Aaliyah El, Lenoir-Rhyne
Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial
Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry
Kamil Collier, Lincoln Memorial
Laney Beale, Wingate

2025-26 SAC Women's Basketball Players to Watch

Anderson: Rose Gravel, Ashlyn Sheridan
Carson-Newman: Emily Gonzalez
Catawba: Mary Spry, Bailee Goodlett
Coker: Kamari Thompson
Emory & Henry: Gracyn Hall
Lenoir-Rhyne: Lauren Arnold
Mars Hill: Jadyiah Peoples, Makayla Street
Newberry: Mary-Kate Kent, Rickell Brown
Tusculum: Abbi Douglas, Josie Horner
UVA Wise: Caroline Mullins, Madison Looney
Wingate: Kyleigh Bacon