Steubenville, Ohio - The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released its Preseason Coaches' poll for women's basketball on Wednesday. Like last season, the conference is split up into two divisions: North and South. The top four teams from each division will make the postseason.
 

2026-27 PAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (North Division)
School (first-place votes)	Points	2025-26 record (conference)
1. Grove City College (9)	67	17-9 (11-5 PAC)
2. Allegheny College (3)	56	13-13 (10-6 PAC)
3. Westminster College	43	9-17 (6-10 PAC)
4. Geneva College	39	10-16 (7-9 PAC)
5. Hiram College (1)	32	7-18 (4-12 PAC)
6. Thiel College	30	6-19 (1-15 PAC)

 

2025-26 PAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll (South Division)
School (first-place votes)	Points	2025-26 record (conference)
1. Washington & Jefferson College (9)	68	22-7 (14-2 PAC)
2. Saint Vincent College (2)	58	21-7 (14-2 PAC)
3. Chatham University (2)	40	18-8 (10-6 PAC)
4. Bethany College	36	17-10 (11-5 PAC)
5. Waynesburg University	32	12-13 (8-8 PAC)
6. Franciscan University	17	3-22 (0-16 PAC)

*Saint Francis is placed in the South Division this year, but is ineligible for the PAC Championship as the school reclassifies from Division I*

Players to Watch
One Baron was named as one of the PAC Players to Watch for the upcoming 2026-27 season. 

Maria McCallen (Sr. Springfield, Pa. / Cardinal O'Hara) led the Barons in field goal percentage last season with 42% of her shots being successful. McCallen was 66% from the charity line, and she averaged 12.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG. She also added 25 assists, 12 blocks, and 17 steals in her first collegiate season. She enters her fourth season as a Baron second in blocks all-time in program history (61).

New Faces
There are newcomers all across the roster, from the players to the coaching staff. Tracy Guerrette begins her first year as head coach of the program, having had coaching experience at the University of Maine Presque Isle and the NCAA Division I University of Maine. Guerrette brought in five newcomers to the squad, as Kaylyn Sowers, Claire Jackson, Ellen Rohde, Mary Rohde, and Grace Hering round out the recruiting class.

The Favorites
Washington & Jefferson earned nine first-place votes to be picked to win the South. They won the PAC Championship last season, defeating runner-ups Saint Vincent. Grove City earned nine first-place votes as well, and the Wolverines are favored to win the North. 

Up Next
The Barons open up the season in a unique fashion, playing two home games on the same night this Friday, November 7th. Franciscan will play Kent State Tuscarawas at 4 PM and SUNY Canton at 8 PM. This is the first team in program history the Barons have hosted two games on the same day. 

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