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EVANSVILLE, Ind. \u2013\u00a0The Ohio Valley Conference released its\u00a02025-26 Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish\u00a0Tuesday morning at the league’s annual Media Day.<\/p>\n
The poll, voted on by OVC head coaches and sports information directors, placed\u00a0Little Rock\u00a0in\u00a0seventh place\u00a0with\u00a0110 points, just seven behind\u00a0sixth-place UT Martin.\u00a0Lindenwood\u00a0was picked to win the conference with\u00a0179 points, followed closely by\u00a0Tennessee Tech (175)\u00a0and\u00a0Western Illinois (166)\u00a0rounding out the top three.<\/p>\n
“That’s about what I expected,” said\u00a0Little Rock head coach Steve Wiedower<\/a>. “In the current climate of college basketball, every team looks different each year. I ranked teams based on how many returning players they had because you don’t always know what new players can do. We have 10 newcomers this season, and I’m sure people based their votes on that. But our goal never changes \u2014 we’re here to compete for a conference championship every year.”<\/p>\n One of Wiedower’s three returning players is among the best in the league.\u00a0Graduate guard Jordan Holman<\/a>, a returning Second-team\u00a0All-OVC performer, will anchor a talented group of newcomers. The Hugo, Okla., native 13.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Junior guard Mya Cotto<\/a>, who represented Little Rock at Media Day, is one of the\u00a0OVC Players to Watch\u00a0this season. The 5-10 Denver, Colo. native led\u00a0Murray (Okla.) State College\u00a0in scoring last year, earning\u00a0Region 2 Newcomer of the Year\u00a0honors while leading her team to a\u00a028-4 record\u00a0and an\u00a0NJCAA Tournament berth.<\/p>\n Sophomore post Destinee Salgado<\/a>, a 6-2 transfer from\u00a0Iona, is also expected to make an impact in the paint and joins Cotto on the OVC\u00a0Players to Watch\u00a0list.<\/p>\n Senior guard Alaina Payne<\/a>\u00a0(Fort Worth, Texas) will look to expand her role in her final season after appearing in 29 games with two starts last year.\u00a0Sophomore guard Brenna Burk<\/a>\u00a0(Russellville, Ark.) is another returner looking to contribute more minutes after playing in 30 games as a freshman.<\/p>\n “We’re excited about this team,” Wiedower added. “They’ve come together really well since the summer, and every week you can see their confidence and chemistry improving.”<\/p>\n The\u00a0Trojans\u00a0will tip off the\u00a0season\u00a0at 6 p.m. Friday night with an\u00a0exhibition game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff at the Jack Stephens Center. Full schedule and ticket information are available at\u00a0LRTrojans.com.<\/p>\n 2025-26 OVC Women’s Basketball\u00a0Predicted Order of Finish
\n1. Lindenwood (6) – 179
\n2. Tennessee Tech (12) – 175
\n3. Western Illinois (4) – 166
\n4. Southern Indiana – 147
\n5. Eastern Illinois – 121
\n6. UT Martin – 117
\n7. Little Rock – 110
\n8. Tennessee State – 78
\n9. Southeast Missouri – 51
\n10. Morehead State – 33
\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 SIUE – 33
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\nOVC Women’s Basketball\u00a0Returning All-OVC
\nEllie Brueggemann, Jr., Lindenwood
\nBrooke Coffey, Jr., Lindenwood
\nJordan Holman<\/a>, Gr., Little Rock
\nReghan Grimes, Sr., Tennessee Tech
\nKenley McCarn, R-Jr., UT Martin
\nRaegan McCowan, Jr., Western Illinois
\nMia Nicastro, Sr., Western Illinois
\n2025 OVC Women’s Basketball Watch List
\nLalani Ellis, G, Jr. – Eastern Illinois
\nMeioshe Mason, C, R-Jr. – Eastern Illinois
\nMya Skoff, G, Jr. – Lindenwood
\nGracy Wernli, G, Jr. – Lindenwood
\nMya Cotto<\/a>, G, Jr. – Little Rock
\nDestinee Salgado<\/a>, F, So. – Little Rock
\nLaura Toffali, G, Sr. – Morehead State
\nMarie Sepp, G, Sr. – Morehead State
\nLexi McCully, G, Gr. – Southeast Missouri
\nAinaya Williams, C, So. – Southeast Missouri
\nMacy Silvey, G, Sr. – SIUE
\nJaiden Bryant, G, Sr. – SIUE
\nAli Saunders, G, Sr. – Southern Indiana
\nChloe Gannon, F\/C, Jr. – Southern Indiana
\nSomah Kamara, G, So. – Tennessee State
\nErin Martin, F, So. – Tennessee State
\nChloe Larry, PG, So. – Tennessee Tech
\nReagan Hurst, G, Gr. – Tennessee Tech
\nNorah Clark, F, Jr. – UT Martin
\nAddi Brownfield, G, Sr. \u2013 Western Illinois
\nAllie Meadows, G, Sr. \u2013 Western Illinois<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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