LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team was selected sixth in the annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division Preseason Poll, the league office announced Thursday.

In 2024-25, the Warriors made the PSAC Tournament for the third straight year, finishing 13-15 overall and 10-11 in conference play. Last season, the Warriors averaged 63.3 PPG, 37.0 RPG, 14.8 APG, 9.2 SPG, 3.0 BPG., and shot 40.9% from the field.

ESU will have six returners, including reigning PSAC Freshman of the Year, Brie Droege. At guard, Droege started all 29 games for the Warriors averaging 28.0 MPG, 11.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, shot 47.1% from the field, and totaled 35 steals.

Sophomore Guard Brooke Droege returns averaging 20.6 MPG, 6.0 PPG, 2.1 RPG, shot 41.0% from the field, and totaled 28 steals. Graduate guard Jessica Polin returns to the lineup after leading the team in steals last season with 41. She also ranked second in assists (62) and fifth in points per game (5.2). Junior guard Lacie Kringe returns after she averaged 24.7 MPG, 2.3 APG, 2.8 RPG, and 5.5 PPG last season.

Junior forward Kaitlyn McGeary and senior forward Caitlin Marten round out the returners for the Warriors.

ESU welcomes 10 newcomers to this years team, including eight freshman and two transfers. The Warriors added freshmen guards Jess Devine, Mikel Lancit, Riley Nausedas, Emma Thornton, McKayla Strunk, and forwards Kiera McKown, Lilly Riggi, and Peyton Long.

Senior guard Avery White, a transfer from Chestnut Hill, joins the program after playing for the Griffins the past three seasons. Last year, White averaged 29.2 MPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 10.6 PPG. Throughout her career, she has scored 684 points, posted 95 steals, and put up 18 blocks. Sophomore forward Skylar Soltis, a transfer from Georgian Court, joins the program this season.

Head Coach Liz Flooks enters her second season with the Warriors after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University. During her tenure, SHU won two Northeastern Conference championships, the 2024 NEC regular season title, made two NCAA Tournaments, and won its first NCAA Tournament game in program history in 2023.

East Stroudsburg opens the 2025-26 season on Saturday, November 15 when they travel to Bowie State University for the Bowie State Tip-Off Classic. The Warriors will face Bowie State at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and Shaw at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The PSAC schedule begins for East Stroudsburg on Saturday, December 4 when Seton Hill makes the trip to Koehler Fieldhouse. 

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