Women’s Basketball Tabbed Eighth in GAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — The Great American Conference released its 2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday, with East Central University tabbed to finish eighth in the league standings as voted on by the conference's 12 head coaches.
Harding University claimed the top spot in the poll with 10 first-place votes, while Southeastern Oklahoma State University, last season's GAC Championship Tournament runner-up, secured second place with the remaining two first-place votes. Southwestern Oklahoma State University checked in at third, followed by GAC Tournament Champions Northwestern Oklahoma State University in fourth and Henderson State University in fifth. Arkansas Tech University landed in sixth, with Southern Nazarene University rounding out the top seven ahead of the Tigers.
Oklahoma Baptist University, Southern Arkansas University, Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello rounded out the poll behind ECU.
The Tigers enter the 2026-27 campaign looking to build on a 15-12 overall record and an 11-11 mark in GAC play from last season. ECU earned the No. 7 seed in the GAC Championship Tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the Tigers narrowly fell 66-65 to No. 2 seed Northwestern Oklahoma State. Northwestern went on to capture the GAC Championship Tournament title.
Head coach
Heather Hurt enters her fourth season at the helm of the ECU program, leading a roster that combines experienced returners with a talented group of newcomers as the Tigers prepare for the upcoming season.
ECU returns four players from last year's squad, highlighted by two-time All-GAC selection
Katie Edelen. The senior guard returns as a key leader for the Tigers after a 2025-26 campaign in which she led the team with 363 points, averaging 13.4 points per game. Edelen also paced ECU on the boards with 187 rebounds, averaging 6.9 per contest, while recording a team-high 21 blocks.
Natalie Milwood is another key returner for the Tigers. After joining ECU last season following her time at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Milwood appeared in all 27 games and posted a 49.2 percent field-goal percentage, providing valuable experience and consistency in the lineup.
The Tigers will feature a refreshed roster in 2026-27, welcoming four freshmen and five transfers to the program. Freshmen
Rhyanna Robinson,
Trinity Prince,
Mea Ginn and
Kinsey Morris join the Tigers alongside transfers
Mia Ervin (Adams State University),
Chloe Jensen (College of Southern Idaho),
Aubriana Wilson (Crowder College),
Adamaris Anorve-Basoria (University of Maine at Fort Kent) and
Shiloh Fletcher (Southern Arkansas University).
The incoming group adds depth, athleticism and versatility as ECU looks to blend its returning experience with new talent and continue building momentum heading into the new season.
East Central opens the 2026-27 campaign on the road in Lawton, Oklahoma, competing against Cameron University and Oklahoma Christian University on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, respectively.
