PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Plymouth State University women's basketball team was picked to finish eighth in 2026-27 as the Little East Conference (LEC) released its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday.
 
Plymouth State earned 17 points to place eighth, between the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (25) and Vermont State University Castleton (8). Rhode Island College received five first-place votes and 61 points to top the poll, narrowly edging the University of Southern Maine, which earned four first-place votes and 60 points.
 
The University of Massachusetts Boston placed third with 43 points, followed by Eastern Connecticut State University (42), Keene State College (40) and WestConn (28). UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State and VTSU Castleton rounded out the poll.
 
Head coach Curtis Arsenault returns for his fourth season at the helm. The Panthers got off to a fast start last winter, entering the winter recess with an 8-2 record before finishing 10-15. The team recorded its second double-digit-win season in Arsenault's first three years, marking the first time since 2009-10 that PSU had reached double-digit wins in two of three seasons.
 
Arsenault's squad returns just one senior in Ashley Stephens (Pembroke, N.H.), who averaged 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. Her 26 blocks also led the team. Sophomore Macy Swormstedt (Laconia, N.H.) averaged more than eight points and four rebounds per game during her rookie campaign while recording team highs of 83 assists and 49 steals.
 
Sophomore Genna Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) is the team's top returning three-point threat after knocking down 25 shots from beyond the arc last season. Junior Torle Adumene (Manchester, N.H.) and sophomore Alex White (Derry, N.H.) give the Panthers a pair of tough interior players. Arsenault also welcomes five newcomers to the roster.
 
Plymouth State opens the season at home against the University of Maine at Farmington on Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. The Panthers will play nine non-conference contests before opening LEC play on Dec. 5 with a trip to Rhode Island College. The top six teams in the final regular-season standings will advance to the LEC Tournament in late February.