INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Malone University women's basketball team was chosen to finish second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll. The Pioneers earned two first-place votes and 143 points overall.
 
The Ashland University Eagles, four-time defending champions of the G-MAC, are the preseason favorites with nine first-place votes and 154 points. Northwood University claimed the final two remaining first-place votes and finished third with 138 points. The University of Findlay (120 points) and Hillsdale College (115 points) make up the fourth and fifth spots in the poll.
 
Malone finished with a record of 22-8 last season, the best mark under Head Coach Selana Ickes. In her career, Ickes is 118-80 through seven seasons and is closing in on the school record for most career wins by a women's basketball coach. The Pioneers lost two seniors from a team that reached the G-MAC Semifinals in Kyli Horn and Brooklyn Troyer.
 
The senior class of Aila Miller, Nataley Armstrong, Brinn Hunt, Anna Krupa and Erin Kaufman will all be key contributors to this year's team with their wealth of knowledge. Kaufman was named a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American Honorable Mention for NCAA Division II, NCCAA First Team All-American, First Team All-Midwest Region and First Team All-Conference in the G-MAC. Kaufman led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks last season and Armstrong was the leader in assists.
 
Elena Oliver is the lone junior returning to the squad this season, and Malone has brought in a transfer from Central Arizona College in Irene Maroto. Meredith Randulic missed nearly all of 2024-25 due to injury and returns this year's roster as well.
 
Alyssa Geiser, Abbey Price, Katie Kaufman and Kylee Bruce are looking to make a splash in their second seasons with the program. Sophomore transfer Kamryn Ruffin joins the Pioneers as well from Salem University. Malone will have one true freshman on the roster in Bridget Barber.
 
The season begins for the Pioneers on Friday, November 14 at home versus Wayne State University. That game tips off at 4:30 P.M.