LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced their 2025-26 preseason women's basketball coaches' poll on Thursday. Clarion was predicted to finish fifth in the PSAC West division.
 
The Golden Eagles finished sixth in the PSAC West division after one of the best turnarounds in the nation in 2024-25, improving by 13 wins from a season before to go 14-15 overall and 8-12 in conference play. Clarion earned a spot in the PSAC Tournament for the first time since the 2016-17 season, falling to Seton Hill in the opening round.
 
Clarion officially returns just two starters from a year ago, but strong contingent of players from 2024-25 will once again be in the Blue & Gold. Sophomore Arianna Seitz and Zoe Guice are both back in the fold, with Seitz starting every game as a freshman last year and Guice all but one. Seitz averaged 10.1 points per game a year ago, while Guice ranked second in the PSAC with an average of 3.0 steals per game.
 
Those are not the only significant contributors returning to Tippin Gym in 2025-26. Five other returners that saw action in 17 or more games last year will be back, including seniors Dominika Logue and Jaylyn Twitty. Sophomores Alyssa Terza, Madison Palek and Claire Noble also return and will be flanked by a contingent of newcomers.
 
Clarion will open the 2025-26 season with a home tipoff tournament, hosting Livingstone and Bluefield State over November 15-16.
 
2025-26 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (# of first place votes in parentheses)
 
EAST
 
1. Lock Haven (6)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. Bloomsburg
4. West Chester
5. Millersville
6. East Stroudsburg
7. Shippensburg
8. Shepherd
9. Mansfield
 
WEST
 
1. Gannon (7)
2. Seton Hill (1)
3. IUP
4. California
5. Clarion
6. Edinboro
7. Slippery Rock
8. Pitt-Johnstown