GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Belmont Abbey has been voted third in the 2026-27 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, the league office announced today. Voting was conducted by the 16 head coaches with each unable to vote for their own school.
The Crusaders received 198 points and three first-place votes, trailing Francis Marion (210 points/6 firsts) and Lees-McRae (206 points, 7 firsts). Barton came in fourth with 179 points, while Chowan rounded out the top five with 152 points.
Young Harris is picked sixth with 150 points, followed by UNC Pembroke (147), King (135), Emmanuel (104) and Shorter 96).
Ferrum (95), North Greenville (73), Mount Olive (68), Converse (49), Southern Wesleyan (43), and Erskine (15) concluded the poll.
Three players were mentioned on the conference's Player to Watch list, including 2025-26 All-Defensive Team selection
Brielle George (So., F, West Palm Beach, Fla.). She is joined by
Leigha Dennison (Sr., G, Hilliard, Ohio) and
Janiah Shular, (Sr., F, Huntersville, N.C..
The 2027 Conference Carolinas Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will get underway on Sunday, February 28 and Monday, March 1. The fourth, fifth and sixth seeds will host two games over the two days. Teams seeded seventh through 12th will play the first round on the first night, with the hosts, seeded fourth through sixth, will play the winners the next night.
The three survivors join the top three seeds to Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C. March 5-7.
2026-27 Conference Carolinas
Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
|
School |
Points (First Place) |
| 1 |
Francis Marion |
210 (6) |
| 2 |
Lees-McRae |
206 (7) |
| 3 |
Belmont Abbey |
198 (3) |
| 4 |
Barton |
179 |
| 5 |
Chowan |
152 |
| 6 |
Young Harris |
150 |
| 7 |
UNC Pembroke |
147 |
| 8 |
King |
135 |
| 9 |
Emmanuel |
104 |
| 10 |
Shorter |
96 |
| 11 |
Ferrum |
95 |
| 12 |
North Greenville |
73 |
| 13 |
Mount Olive |
68 |
| 14 |
Converse |
49 |
| 15 |
Southern Wesleyan |
43 |
| 16 |
Erskine |
15 |
