Rock Hill, SC – The South Atlantic Conference has released the Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Players to Watch for the 2026 season, with Lincoln Memorial landing in the 4th place position in the preseason poll and two players earning a spot in the players to watch list.

LMU was voted fourth in the coaches' poll, with Lenoir-Rhyne earning the first place vote. Lincoln Memorial looks to build on last season's success after a historic 2025-26 season. The Railsplitters hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament for the first time in program history, finished the regular season undefeated at home, and ended the season ranked #15 nationally.

Junior Kallie Housley and graduate student Keyonee Neal were listed as Players to Watch for LMU.

Housley, the Corbin, KY native, provided valuable minutes for the Railsplitters last season and was a top threat from beyond the arc. The guard played 238 minutes last season for Lincoln Memorial and finished the season with a 42.9 field goal percentage and a 37.8 three point percentage, with her season high being 19 points against Mars Hill on December 10^th.

Neal, a transfer from the Dominican University of California, brings experience to LMU as she started all 29 games for the Penguins last season, playing 887 minutes. The guard totaled 358 and produced six doubles-doubles during the 2025-2026 season, highlighted by a season-high 19 points and 12 rebounds against Menlo. She also was named All-PacWest Second Team All-Conference.

The Lady Railsplitters will open up their season at home as they host Bluefield State on Monday, November 9^th at 5:00 pm in Tex Turner Arena.

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

2026-27 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank- School (First Place Votes) - Score
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (10) 120
2. Carson-Newman (2) 108
3. Wingate 92
4. Lincoln Memorial 89
5. Anderson 72
6. Coker 71
7. UVA Wise 68
8. Catawba 62
9. Newberry 42
10. Emory & Henry 31
11. Mars Hill 24
12. Tusculum 13
 

2026-27 SAC Women's Basketball Players to Watch

Anderson: Rose Gravel, Ashley Hill
Catawba: Sheree Gidney, Brayla Harris
Carson-Newman: Mattie Nuckolls, Keeleigh Rogers
Coker: Kamari Thompson, Dasia Ferguson
Emory & Henry: Rhyan Harris, Gracyn Hall
Lincoln Memorial: Kallie Housley, Keyonee Neal
Lenoir-Rhyne: Aaliyah El, Abigail Brown, Elyseia Brown
Mars Hill: Jadyiah Peoples, Shyann McCummings
Newberry: Mary Kate Grant, Sanae Graham
Tusculum: Marin Lind Agustsdottir, Angela Gomez
UVA Wise: Alissa Cheek, Grace Vyborny
Wingate: Kyleigh Bacon, Laura Montiel