RUSSELVILLE, Ark. - With basketball only a month away, Henderson State's women's basketball was selected ninth in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced Wednesday.

Harding was chosen to defend their 2024-25 title, with 111 points and five first place votes. Southern Nazarene sits just behind in second, tied with Harding with 111 points, but only received four first place votes. Southwestern Oklahoma State received three first place votes and sit behind at 106 points. Filling out the top five is Southeastern Oklahoma State (79) and Oklahoma Baptist (76), picked fourth and fifth respectively. 

The Reddies return six players from last year's squad, including All-GAC Honorable Mentions Brynlee Huggins and Natalie Cardenas.  Cardenas led the team and finished fifth in the conference with 15.1 points per game. She reached double figures in 11 straight games to close out the season. She scored 20 or more points on six different occasions during the 2024-25 campaign, including a career-high 32 points versus Harding on Dec. 14. Huggins led the team in total points, recording 384 on the season, averaging 13.7 points per game. She posted six games with 20 or more points, including a career-best 27 points at Arkansas-Monticello on Jan. 4. Team USA D2 Women's National Team member Sam Basson also returns this season. Basson ranked third on the team in points, averaging 8.1 points per game, and led the team in steals with 27.

Henderson State tips off the season in the Duke Wells Center against Texas A&M-Texarkana on November 14th at 5:30 PM.

2025-26 GAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
 

Team	Total Votes	First Place Votes
Harding	111	5
Southern Nazarene	111	4
Southwestern Oklahoma State	106	3
Southeastern Oklahoma State	79	--
Oklahoma Baptist	76	--
East Central	66	--
Northwestern Oklahoma State	58	--
Arkansas Tech	53	--
Henderson State	50	--
Southern Arkansas	43	--
Ouachita Baptist	24	--
Arkansas-Monticello	15	--