CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team has been selected fifth in the 2025-26 Cascade Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll, announced Wednesday morning.

The Mountaineers collected 76 points as they head into the new season. Lewis-Clark State earned the top spot with 110 points and four first-place votes, followed by Oregon Tech (102 points, three first-place votes), Southern Oregon (101 points, two first-place votes), and College of Idaho (100 points, two first-place votes).

EOU is coming off a strong 19-10 overall record (15-7 CCC) in 2024-25, which concluded with the program's 16th all-time appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. Despite graduating All-CCC standout Brie Holecek, the Mounties return an experienced core and welcome several impact newcomers as they aim to contend for a conference title and another deep postseason run.

Veterans Kelsie Siegner, Maggie Smith, Kaiea Waiwaiole, and Brinley Hagemeier will anchor the lineup this year, joined by junior transfers Reigha Niemeyer (Lower Columbia) and Makayla Torkornoo (Multnomah), along with the lone freshman Avery Peterson (Clackamas HS).

Siegner led Eastern last season with 15.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while adding 46 steals and 35 blocks to earn All-CCC honors. Smith contributed 7.0 points per game and ranked second on the team in steals (31), Waiwaiole paced the Mountaineers with a .509 field-goal percentage, and Hagemeier provided a spark from deep, leading EOU in three-point shooting and assists among returners (70).

The Mounties officially open their 2025-26 campaign in Salem, Oregon, the weekend of October 31, with matchups against Arizona Christian and Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).

2025-2026 CCC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll