EMMITSBURG, MD (September 16, 2026) – Mount St. Mary's women's basketball earned a fifth place projection in the 2026 Metro Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior guard
Alana Powell earned individual recognition as a member of the Preseason All-Metro Second Team.
The Mount received a total of 108 points in the poll, which is voted on by the league's head coaches.
Powell was a force for the Mountaineers in 2025-26, competing in 30 contests with 16 starts, and averaging over eight points per game. She shot 40.2 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from three-point range. Alongside her scoring prowess, Powell averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 assists per contest. Her numbers improved in conference play, increasing to 9.9 points per game with a career high 28 points coming in a win of Sacred Heart.
Defending conference champion Fairfield was the unanimous pick to repeat. Siena was second, followed by Sacred Heart and Iona, before the Mount's selection of fifth place.
Mount St. Mary's opens their season with a home game November 2 against Navy.
2026 METRO CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
| 2026 Metro Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
169 (13) |
| 2 |
Siena |
141 |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
134 |
| 4 |
Iona |
127 |
| 5 |
Mount St. Mary's |
108 |
| 6 |
Quinnipiac |
103 |
| 7 |
Marist |
87 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
83 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
80 |
| 10 |
Saint Peter's |
50 |
| 11 |
Rider |
43 |
| 12 |
Canisius |
42 |
| 13 |
Niagara |
16 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Kaety L'Amoreaux (Fairfield) – Unanimous |
| Preseason All-Metro First Team |
|
| Player |
Year |
Institution |
| Francesca Schiro (unanimous) |
So. |
Siena |
| Kaety L'Amoreaux (unanimous) |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Justine Henry (unanimous) |
So. |
Marist |
| Oralye Kiefer |
Gr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Meghan Andersen |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Shariah Gailes |
Sr. |
Canisius |
|
|
|
|
| Preseason All-Metro Second Team |
|
| Player |
Year |
Institution |
| Nalyce Dudley |
Sr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Cyanne Coe |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Kaiya Rain Tucker |
So. |
Siena |
| Jillian Huerter |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Alana Powell |
Sr. |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Mya Zaccagnini |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Aliya McIver |
Sr. |
Rider |
|
|
|
|
| Preseason All-Metro Third Team |
|
| Player |
Year |
Institution |
| Lana McCarthy |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Paige Kohler |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Danielle Williamsen |
Jr. |
Marist |
| Nicole Melious |
R-Jr. |
Siena |
| Sophie Nascimento |
So. |
Sacred Heart |
| Kristina Juric |
R-Jr. |
Manhattan |
