EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball was picked to finish ninth in the 2025-26 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced on Tuesday morning during the conference media day.
The preseason poll, which is voted on by the league's head coaches and communication personnel, saw the Redhawks receive 51 points in the preseason voting finishing ahead of Morehead State and SIUE with 33 points each.
Second year Head Coach Briley Palmer on the Redhawks preseason poll, "Rankings don't define us — work does. Year 2 is about earning every ounce of respect through how we compete, prepare, and represent SEMO. We're not asking for it. We're earning it" said Palmer in her second season at the helm.
"Our players came up with this year's hashtag — #FindAWay — and I'm rolling with them. I believe in this group and how they show up every single day."
Two Redhawks landed on the 2025-26 OVC 'Watch List' in graduate student guard
Lexi McCully and sophomore center
Ainaya Williams.
McCully is the leading scorer from the 2024-25 campaign where she averaged 11.2 points per game scoring 324 points over 29 games played. She shot 34.7-percent from the field, 31.2-percet from three, and was an impressive 86-percent free throw shooter a season ago.
Ainaya Williams is the leading rebounder returning from a freshman campaign that saw her average 5.2 rebounds per game. She collected a total of 136 rebounds, 53 coming on the offensive end (2.0 ORPG). She also led the Redhawks with 53 blocked shots (2.0 BPG) which put her in the top 10 in program history for blocks in a single season.
Williams was the third leading scorer a season ago, averaging 9.2 points per game and led the team in field goal percentage at 49.7-percent.
Lindenwood was picked to win the league with six first place points and 179 total points, followed by Tennessee Tech with 12 first place votes and 175 points. Western Illinois rounded out the top three with four first place votes and 166 total points.
Southern Indiana (147), Eastern Illinois (121), UT Martin (117), Little Rock (110), and Tennessee State (78) completed spots four through eight to round out the poll.
Season Opener
SEMO Women's Basketball will begin its 2025-26 campaign at B1G member Illinois in Champaign, Illinois on Tuesday, November 4.
2025-26 OVC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Lindenwood (6) - 179
2. Tennessee Tech (12) - 175
3. Western Illinois (4) - 166
4. Southern Indiana - 147
5. Eastern Illinois - 121
6. UT Martin - 117
7. Little Rock - 110
8. Tennessee State - 78
9. Southeast Missouri - 51
10. Morehead State - 33
SIUE - 33
OVC Women's Basketball Returning All-OVC
Ellie Brueggemann, Jr., Lindenwood
Brooke Coffey, Jr., Lindenwood
Jordan Holman, Gr., Little Rock
Reghan Grimes, Sr., Tennessee Tech
Kenley McCarn, R-Jr., UT Martin
Raegan McCowan, Jr., Western Illinois
Mia Nicastro, Sr., Western Illinois
2025 OVC Women's Basketball Watch List
Lalani Ellis, G, Jr. - Eastern Illinois
Meioshe Mason, C, R-Jr. - Eastern Illinois
Mya Skoff, G, Jr. - Lindenwood
Gracy Wernli, G, Jr. - Lindenwood
Mya Cotto, G, Jr. - Little Rock
Destinee Salgado, F, So. - Little Rock
Laura Toffali, G, Sr. - Morehead State
Marie Sepp, G, Sr. - Morehead State
Lexi McCully, G, Gr. - Southeast Missouri
Ainaya Williams, C, So. - Southeast Missouri
Macy Silvey, G, Sr. - SIUE
Jaiden Bryant, G, Sr. - SIUE
Ali Saunders, G, Sr. - Southern Indiana
Chloe Gannon, F/C, Jr. - Southern Indiana
Somah Kamara, G, So. - Tennessee State
Erin Martin, F, So. - Tennessee State
Chloe Larry, PG, So. - Tennessee Tech
Reagan Hurst, G, Gr. - Tennessee Tech
Norah Clark, F, Jr. - UT Martin
Addi Brownfield, G, Sr. – Western Illinois
Allie Meadows, G, Sr. – Western Illinois
