BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor earned the top spot in the 2025-26 American Southwest Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, announced Wednesday. The Cru headlined the poll voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
UMHB earned 27 points and four first-place votes after a 17-9 record last season. Hardin-Simmons was voted second with 23 points. The Cowgirls went 19-8 overall last year with a 4-4 record in conference action. East Texas Baptist finished the poll in third with 22 points after a 23-5 campaign last year. Both Hardin-Simmons and East Texas Baptist also received two first-place votes each. Howard Payne closed out the poll with eight points.
Josie Bruder,
Amillion Fowler and
Rachel Okoye were each named to the ASC Women's Basketball Players to Watch list.
Bruder, a senior guard from Plano, was a Second Team All-ASC selection last season. She played in 23 games with 279 points, ranking sixth in the NCAA with an 88.73 free throw percentage. Bruder made 88 free throws and a team-high 50 three-pointers, adding 96 rebounds, 23 steals and 18 blocks.
Fowler, a senior guard from Houston, was an ASC All-Defensive Team selection a year ago. She played in 24 games with an average of 8.2 points per contest. Fowler totaled 197 points scored, bringing down 93 rebounds. She added 43 assists and 24 steals on the year.
Okoye, a senior guard from Houston, earned ASC Newcomer of the Year last season. She was a First Team All-ASC honoree, playing in 26 games. Okoye averaged 8.1 points per game with 211 total points scored. She tallied 120 rebounds, 58 assists, 39 steals and two blocks.
UMHB opens the 2025-26 season in a 5 p.m. contest against Whitman College on Friday, November 7
th in Belton.
