ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference has released the 2025-26 SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which has the Trojans sitting at No. 4 with one first place vote. Senior Ashlyn Sheridan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and sophomore Rose Gravel (Ocala, Fla.) were named Players to Watch.
The Trojans earned 106 votes to come in just behind Wingate, who sits at No. 3 with 107 points.
Anderson was a force in the SAC last season, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 24-10 overall record and a 17-7 record in the SAC. Before their loss in the NCAA Regional Tournament, they had won 12 straight, including all three games in the SAC Tournament to win the SAC Tournament Championship.
Sheridan and Gravel were critical to the Trojans' success last season. Sheridan averaged 7.8 points per game for a total of 266 last season and 4.3 rebounds per game for a total of 146. She played in all 34 games and led the team in minutes with 1,025. She earned a spot on the All-Tournament team following the SAC Championships.
Gravel earned SAC Freshman of the Year honors and was named to the All-Freshman Team. She played in 31 games and earned 21 starts, shooting a team high 56.0 percent from the field. She put up 340 points in her freshman campaign and was second on the team with 238 rebounds.
The Trojans open the 2025-26 season on Friday, Nov. 14th when they head to the Conference Challenge in St. Augustine, Fla. hosted by Flagler College. Anderson will battle the host school on Friday at 1 p.m. and Clayton State University on Saturday at 1 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
2025-26 SAC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference
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
2025-26 SAC 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
