GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Southern Conference women's basketball preseason honors were announced today at the 2025 Southern Conference Media Day presented by Ingles as the Terriers were selected fourth by the league's eight head coaches. Sophomore guard
Molly Masingale earned preseason all-conference honors.
"Preseason is always an exciting time with first official practices kicking off," said head coach
Jimmy Garrity. "Teams are working hard, knowing the first scrimmages and games are right around the corner. Our league is going to be strong again with talented teams from top to bottom. We have really enjoyed watching this team come together. I've been impressed with their spirit, work ethic, and how they have embraced the responsibility of helping prepare each other for the upcoming season."
Masingale picks up the preseason nod after an All-SoCon Freshman Team appearance last season. The sophomore guard saw action in all 29 games a year ago while starting in 19 of them. She totaled 314 points in her freshman campaign, good for second on the team and 13
th in the conference. The Englewood, Tennessee, native pulled down 137 rebounds on the season, placing her second on the team. During league action, Masingale upped her outings to 12.6 points and 6.1 boards per night, ranking her 10
th and eighth in the conference, respectively. Masingale also led the team with 46 treys while shooting a team-high 37.1 percent from deep.
"
Molly Masingale came in ready to go last year and hasn't stopped," said Garrity. "Her positive attitude, intensity, leadership and determination are contagious for our entire program, and we are really looking forward to seeing what her second season brings. Her role increased a great deal throughout last season, and she embraced every single part of it with her belief, poise and teamwork. I'm thrilled for Molly to be recognized on the preseason team as she continues to make a positive impact on and off the court."
The Terriers will open the 2025-26 season on Monday, November 3, inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium against Converse College. Southern Conference action will begin with a road trip to preseason-favorite Chattanooga on Thursday, January 8.
2025-26 Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes) Total
- Chattanooga (6) 48
- UNCG (2) 39
- ETSU 38
- Wofford 28
- Furman 26
- Samford 19
- Western Carolina 14
- Mercer 12
2025-26 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the Year
Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga
2025-26 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team
Meghan Downing, Sr., F, ETSU
Carmen Richardson, So., G, ETSU
Clare Coyle, So., F, Furman
Ariana Bennett, Sr., F, Mercer
Makiah Asidanya, Jr., G, UNCG
Jaila Lee, Sr., G, UNCG
Emily Bowman, R-Sr., C, Samford
Gianna Corbitt, So., F, Chattanooga
Caia Elisaldez, Jr., G, Chattanooga
Molly Masingale, So., G, Wofford
