CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference released its women's basketball preseason rankings on Wednesday, with the Mountaineers securing 106 points to earn a fourth-place spot. Southern Oregon University was chosen to reclaim the conference title, topping the poll with 140 points and six first-place votes. Oregon Tech earned the other six first-place votes, finishing second with 124 points, while Lewis-Clark State College followed closely in third place with 121 points.

Eastern Oregon had a strong showing last season, finishing with a 21-8 overall record and a 17-7 mark in CCC play. Their performance earned them the final at-large bid from the CCC to the NAIA Championships, where they competed against the University of Providence in the opening round.

Leading the team this season is Brie Holecek, last year's top scorer with an average of 15.9 points per game. Holecek, who was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-Conference honors, is expected to remain an impactful player for the Mountaineers on both ends of the court.

Despite the loss of key contributors from last season's roster, the team is optimistic about its returning talent. Kelsey Seigner and Raquel Fehringer, both of whom appeared in all 29 games last season, are set to play crucial roles in the upcoming campaign. Additionally, Eastern Oregon has brought in several key newcomers, including transfers Izzy Arave (Southern Idaho), Brinley Hagemeier (Central Washington), and Kristina Blauman (Bellevue), who will look to make immediate impacts.

The Mounties will begin the 2024-25 season in Caldwell, Idaho, competing in the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Classic. Their first matchups will be against Rocky Mountain College and Hope International University.

2024-25 CCC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll