Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs have been picked to finish third in the preseason South Atlantic Conference women's basketball coach's poll, which was released Thursday morning.
Laney Beale is a preseason All-SAC honoree, with
Kyleigh Bacon being named a SAC Player to Watch. Wingate went 19-11 last season, with a 17-7 record in league play.
Coker is the preseason favorite, followed by Carson-Newman, Wingate, Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne. Catawba is sixth, with LMU and UVA Wise rounding out the top eight. Newberry has been picked ninth, while Tusculum, Emory & Henry and Mars Hill round out the poll.
Beale earned third team All-SAC honors for the Bulldogs last season. She started all 29 games she appeared in last season, averaging 10.4 points per game to go along with 6.3 rebounds per game. Beale handed out 99 assists while also piling up 48 steals. She shot 49 percent from the field and 77 percent at the free throw line.
Bacon earned a spot on the All-SAC Freshman Team in her first season at Wingate last year. She appeared in all 30 games last year, making 27 starts while averaging 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. She shot 45 percent from the field while adding 47 assists and 37 steals on the season.
Wingate opens up the 2025-26 season at the Conference Challenge in Pembroke, taking on UNC Pembroke Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. before facing Francis Marion the following day at 3:30 p.m. Wingate's first home game is Monday, Nov. 17, hosting Mount Olive at 6 p.m.
2025-26 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Score |
| 1. |
Coker (9) |
129 |
| 2. |
Carson-Newman (2) |
117 |
| 3. |
Wingate |
107 |
| 4. |
Anderson (1) |
106 |
| 5. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
89 |
| 6. |
Catawba |
85 |
| 7. |
Lincoln Memorial |
77 |
| 8. |
UVA Wise |
58 |
| 9. |
Newberry |
45 |
| 10. |
Tusculum |
43 |
| 11. |
Emory & Henry |
37 |
| 12. |
Mars Hill |
31 |
Women's Basketball Preseason All-SAC
Shawnteanna Tillman, Coker
Jennifer Sullivan, Carson-Newman
Aaliyah El, Lenoir-Rhyne
Alexa Smiddy, Lincoln Memorial
Breanna Yarber, Emory & Henry
Kamil Collier, Lincoln Memorial
Laney Beale, Wingate
Women's Basketball Players to Watch
Anderson: Rose Gravel, Ashlyn Sheridan
Carson-Newman: Emily Gonzalez
Catawba: Mary Spry, Bailee Goodlett
Coker: Kamari Thompson
Emory & Henry: Gracyn Hall
Lenoir-Rhyne: Lauren Arnold
Mars Hill: Jadyiah Peoples, Makayla Street
Newberry: Mary-Kate Kent, Rickell Brown
Tusculum: Abbi Douglas, Josie Horner
UVA Wise: Caroline Mullins, Madison Looney
Wingate: Kyleigh Bacon
