LILBURN, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has revealed the results of the NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll. The Malone University women's basketball team is receiving votes as the team prepares for the 2025-26 season.
 
The Pioneers were one of 23 squads that were not listed in the opening poll of the year, but received significant votes. Malone is the second team from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) to be listed behind #6 Ashland University. The Pioneers had the sixth-most points out of teams in the Midwest Region with 20.
 
Head Coach Selana Ickes is entering her eighth season at the helm of the program after a 22-8 record one season ago. 22 victories and a .733 winning percentage are the highest marks in her tenure and the best regular season since the 2016-17 season where the team won the G-MAC Tournament. The Pioneers have been great inside Osborne Hall of late with a 45-17 record at home over the last four seasons.
 
Malone returns a majority of their roster from last season, including NCAA Division II WBCA Honorable Mention All-American and NCCAA All-American Erin Kaufman. She was ranked 18th in the country last season in field goal percentage at 55.1%. The Pioneers also return Nataley Armstrong, who was 17th with a 2.07 assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
Last year, Malone relied heavily on the three-point shot and were ranked 21st in most three-point field goals per game (8.0). The team also had the 23rd-best three-point percentage at 34.3% from deep.
 
To open the season, the Pioneers are at home against Wayne State University on Friday, November 14 at 4:30 P.M.