MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The 2026-27 SSAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll was revealed Wednesday morning, with the Thomas University Night Hawks totaling 82 points and slotting into the 10th spot in the 14-team conference.
Loyola topped the poll with nine first-place votes, while William Carey and Faulkner rounded out the podium with four and one first-place vote, respectively.
2026-27 SSAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Loyola - 191 (9)
2. William Carey - 179 (4)
3. Faulkner - 169 (1)
4. UT Southern - 141
T5. Life - 135
T5. Xavier (La.) - 135
7. Blue Mountain - 106
8. Brewton-Parker - 97
9. Mobile - 86
10. Thomas - 82
11. Abraham Baldwin - 52
12. Point - 42
13. Andrew - 32
14. Wesleyan (Ga.) - 23
You can read the full release here.
The Night Hawks also began last season with a preseason ranking of tenth - out of 11 teams - before winning 13 games under first-year Head Coach Jordan Booker; ultimately bowing out to ABAC in the conference tournament. Xavier (La.), Andrew, and Wesleyan (Ga.) bring the conference total to 14 teams.
Thomas takes on the Rams of Columbia International University to begin the season at the ABAC Classic in Tifton on Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m., while SSAC play begins at the Smith-Bonvillian Gymnasium on Nov. 12 against the Lady Barons of Brewton-Parker Christian University.
The 2027 SSAC Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Chappy's Deli, will take place Feb. 23-27 at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.
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