LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team was tabbed first in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Preseason Poll, released Thursday afternoon.
The Warriors were picked to finish first in the PSAC East, with Kutztown coming in second. Both teams received three first-place votes, while Millersville earned two first-place votes to round out the top three. Bloomsburg, West Chester, Shepherd, Shippensburg, and Mansfield complete the PSAC East rankings. In the PSAC West, reigning PSAC Champion Indiana (Pa.) was picked first with seven first-place votes, followed by Gannon (2), Edinboro, California (Pa.), and Lock Haven to round out the top five.
In 2025-26, the Warriors made their fourth consecutive appearance in the PSAC Tournament, finishing 17-12 overall and 12-9 in conference play. Last season, the Warriors averaged 65.6 PPG, 37.4 RPG, 14.3 APG, 10.2 SPG, 2.8 BPG, and shot 40.1% from the field.
ESU returns eight players, including two All-PSAC honorees, and welcomes one transfer and six additional newcomers to the squad.
Junior guard Brie Droege earned All-PSAC East First Team honors last season after being named PSAC East Freshman of the Year in 2024-25. Last season she ranked seventh in the PSAC and third in the East in points per game, fourth in free throw percentage, and ninth in field goal percentage. Droege started all 29 games, scored in double figures 26 times, and recorded three double-doubles. Junior guard Brooke Droege earned All-PSAC East Second Team honors last season. She started 18 of the 20 games she appeared in and led the Warriors in scoring five times, rebounding six times, and steals six times.
Other returners include seniors Lacie Kringe and Kaitlyn McGeary, along with sophomores Jess Devine, Lilly Riggi, Emma Thornton, and Peyton Long.
Kringe, a guard, started all 29 games for the Warriors and averaged 10.7 PPG and 4.7 RPG. She scored at least 15 points in six of the games last season, grabbed five or more rebounds in 16 games, and led the team in steals with 56. Devine, a guard, made starts in three of the 29 games she appeared in and led the team in assists with 89 and ranked second in steals with 54. Thornton, a guard, started seven of the 29 games she appeared in. She averaged 5.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 18.2 MPG, and shot 48.9% from the field. Riggi, a guard, made starts in three of the 24 games she appeared in and averaged 10.6 MPG. McGeary, a center, appeared in 20 games for the Warriors, averaging 7.3 MPG, while Long, a forward, made 14 appearances.
ESU welcomes seven newcomers to this year's team, including one transfer, six freshman, and one dual sport athlete. Freshmen are guards Lola Giordano, Belle Alvarado, Alyssa Donohue, Natalie Sroka, and forward Addison Kilmer. Transferring from California (Pa.) is junior guard Nina Shaw, while sophomore forward Kate Gallagher, a member of the women's lacrosse team, joins the women's basketball team for the winter season.
Head Coach Liz Flooks enters her third season with the Warriors and posts a 30-27 record.
East Stroudsburg opens the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 9 at Fairleigh Dickinson with a 7:00 p.m. start. The Warriors first home contest of the season will be on Wednesday, November 18 against Jefferson at 5:30 p.m. The PSAC schedule begins for the Warriors on Friday, December 4 when they travel to Edinboro with a 3:00 p.m. tipoff.
2026-27 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll (# of first place votes in parentheses)
EAST
1. East Stroudsburg (3)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. Millersville (2)
4. Bloomsburg
5. West Chester
6. Shepherd
7. Shippensburg
8. Mansfield
WEST
1. Indiana (Pa.) (7)
2. Gannon (2)
3. Edinboro
4. California (Pa.)
5. Lock Haven
6. Clarion
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Slippery Rock
9. Seton Hill
