The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team was picked seventh in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, voted on by the league’s head coaches, SIDs and media members.
Cleveland State claimed the top spot with seven first-place votes, with Green Bay placed second with four first-placed votes and Purdue Fort Wayne in third.
NKU is coming off an 11-20 season in 2023-24 and the loss of their two top scorers, Carter McCray (15.7) and Khamari Mitchell-Steen (13.7). Macey Blevins is the leading returning scorer, grabbing a a spot on the Preseason All-League Second Team after a 2023-24 campaign where she averaged 12.9 points per game on 44.3% shooting.
Alongside Blevins, Kailee Davis is back after putting up 10.4 points a game. Notre Dame Academy grad Noelle Hubert also returns, starting in 24 of the 31 games a season ago. Allison Bayse, Kalissa Lacy, and Gabby Razzano also return, each making an appearance in at least 20 games.
Paige Hodson and Madison French are two other members that return with playing time last season.
New additions include WKU transfer Mya Meredith, who sat out last season due to a knee injury, Northeastern transfer Halle Idowu, IUPUI transfer Abby Wolterman, and IU-Indy transfer Jaci Jones.
Three freshman round out the recruiting class, Conner grad Anna Hamilton, Kamora Morgan and Sydney Martin.
Jeff Hans enters as the new head coach, coming in from Thomas More University. Hans replaces Camryn Whitaker and is one of four coaches in the Horizon League to enter the 2024-25 season as the new leaders of their respective programs.
NKU opens their regular season on Nov. 4 at home against Middle Tennessee State University.
Dig Deeper (submitted by Horizon League):
- Cleveland State finished the 2023-24 season as League runner-up after advancing to the Barbasol #HLWBB Championship game last season.
- Reigning Player of the Year Colbi Maples returns as the favorite to win the award after averaging 16.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game last season.
- Green Bay places second in the Preseason Poll this season, marking the fifth time in the last five seasons that the Phoenix have been selected to finish in the top three.
- Purdue Fort Wayne comes in third in the Preseason Poll after completing its most successful season in program history, finishing with a 23-13 record and a trip to the Super 16 round of the WNIT.
- #HLWBB welcomes four new coaches this season.
- Kayla Karius returns as the head coach of her alma mater, Green Bay.
- Chandler McCabe (RMU) and Melissa Jackson (Youngstown State) all enter the season as first-year head coaches.
- The regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 4 with Horizon League play scheduled to start on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
- The 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are set to conclude at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis March 10-11 with the mantra #MarchStartsHere.