Haddonfield, N.J. — Marywood University was picked fith in the Atlantic East Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.
Immaculata University was picked first by the coaches. The Mighty Macs received 40 total points and three first place votes.
After a successful championship run last season, the Mighty Macs are full of returning talent. Carly Coleman, a sophomore out of Springfield, Pa., was named the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year after recording eight double-doubles and averaging 10 points per game alongside 8.8 rebounds per game. She will partner up with senior Olivia Ettorre, the 2025 AEC Championship MVP. Ettorre's impact has been seen throughout, having started 25 of 26 games last season. Meg Robbins and Riley Cassidy will look to step into starting roles, after both had successful campaigns last time out.
Edging out Neumann for the second place spot was Marymount who received 39 total points with two first place votes. The 2023 Champions bowed out in the semifinals last year after a hard fought loss to Neumann. The Saints will look to one of the most decorated players in AEC women's basketball history, Chandler Eddleton who returns as a graduate student. The guard was a First Team All-American, WBCA First Team All-American and a d3hoops.com Second Team All-Region in her 2023-24 campaign, while being a two-time First Team All-Conference selection. Sophomore Kayla Barr, a 2024 Second Team All-Conference selection, will look to lead the Saints to its triumphant years of past. She averaged 11.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Third place was given to the Knights of Neumann, last year's runners-up, receiving 38 points and two first place votes. Forward Emily DuPont, who was awarded Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season, returns for her fifth year. Her 46 blocks last season tied for seventh-most in a single season in program history, upping her career tally to 77 blocks, which is tied ninth for the most in program history. She led the conference with 1.8 blocks per game, proving to be a critical asset to the Knights' defense.
Centenary received 32 total points and the final first place vote, landing them in fourth place. The Cyclones return a roster with experience in terms of age, but not in terms of starts. Not a single starter from last year's first round playoff match returns, making way for plenty of new players to make their impact.
Landing in the fifth place spot was Marywood. The Pacers are coached by Tara Macciocco, the program's all-time winningest coach with 219 victories. Olivia Ciullo, a graduate student from Old Forge, Pa., returns for her fifth year. Ciullo was a First Team All-Conference selection last year after averaging 8.1 rebounds and 13.2 points. With three returning starters, the squad will look for redemption after nodding out in the semifinals last year.
Gwynedd Mercy found the sixth spot after receiving 23 votes and was followed by Saint Elizabeth in seventh with 18 votes. The Griffins will be filled with young energy, having only five upperclassmen on their roster. With it being the Eagles first year in the Atlantic East, Saint Elizabeth will hope to make a push for playoffs.
Pratt rounded out the poll, coming in eighth place, with eight votes. The Cannoneers will be a dark horse after not having competed in the 2024-25 season.
Gwynedd Mercy, Marywood and Saint Elizabeth all begin non-conference play on Friday, November 7. Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann hit the court the following day, Saturday, November 8, before Pratt begins its season on Wednesday, November 12.
Conference play will begin on Wednesday, January 7 with Gwynedd Mercy traveling to Pratt, Immaculata playing at Neumann, Marywood heading to Centenary, and Saint Elizabeth hosting Marymount.
The 2025-26 Atlantic East Tournament is set to begin with the first round contests on Monday, February 23, followed by the semifinals on Wednesday, February 25, and the championship match on Saturday, February 28.
Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Immaculata - 40 (3)
2. Marymount - 39 (2)
3. Neumann - 38
4. Centenary - 32 (1)
5. Marywood - 26
6. Gwynedd Mercy - 23
7. Saint Elizabeth - 18
8. Pratt - 8
