RICHARDSON, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball has been picked third in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll as announced on Monday.
UT Tyler picked up eight first place votes and 761 total points, just 49 behind first place Texas Woman's who garnered 20 first place votes. In-between is Lubbock Christian with 776 points and 14 first place votes.
Rounding out the top five is West Texas A&M with 663 points and six first place votes, and Eastern New Mexico with 657 points and two first place votes.
West Texas A&M senior guard Kyla Kane was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year.
The preseason poll and preseason players of the year are voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Junior guard
Polina Latysheva was named to the LSC Players to Watch list. The Moscow, Russia native averaged 8.8 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists during last season while appearing in all 30 games and was named an All-LSC Honorable Mention selection.
UT Tyler will look to make their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this season after finishing 25-5 overall and 20-2 in LSC play over the 2024-25 season.
That season begins at the DII CCA Tip-Off Classic hosted by MSU-Billings in Billings, Montana on November 7-9. The Patriots will face Colorado School of Mines, Mary, and Nebraska Kearney over their three games.
Preseason Poll
| Rank |
Team |
1st |
Total |
| 1 |
Texas Woman's |
20 |
810 |
| 2 |
Lubbock Christian |
14 |
776 |
| 3 |
UT Tyler |
8 |
761 |
| 4 |
West Texas A&M |
6 |
663 |
| 5 |
Eastern New Mexico |
2 |
657 |
| 6 |
Angelo State |
|
656 |
| 7 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
|
564 |
| 8 |
UT Permian Basin |
|
466 |
| 9 |
Midwestern State |
|
461 |
| 10 |
St. Mary's |
|
438 |
| 11 |
St. Edward's |
|
363 |
| 12 |
Oklahoma Christian |
|
310 |
| 13 |
Cameron |
|
262 |
| 14 |
Texas A&M International |
1 |
210 |
| 15 |
UT Dallas |
|
168 |
| 16 |
Western New Mexico |
|
161 |
| 17 |
Sul Ross State |
|
77 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Kyla Kane, G, Sr., West Texas A&M
Players to Watch
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Major |
Hometown |
| Keniah Williams |
Angelo State |
C |
Sr. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Georgetown, Texas |
| Madison Griggs |
Cameron |
F |
So. |
Criminal Justice |
Mansfield, Texas |
| Nataya Lockett |
Eastern New Mexico |
G |
Sr. |
Marketing |
Omaha, Neb. |
| Kennedy Chappell |
Lubbock Christian |
G |
Jr. |
Animal Science/Pre Vet |
Heath, Texas |
| Kerbie Cash |
Midwestern State |
F |
So. |
Early Childhood Edu. |
Wylie, Texas |
| Taylor Jackson |
Oklahoma Christian |
F |
Sr. |
Marriage & Family Therapy |
McKinney, Texas |
| Christin Callens |
St. Mary's |
F |
So. |
Biochemistry |
Houston, Texas |
| Victoria Aguayo |
Sul Ross State |
G |
Sr. |
Biology |
El Paso, Texas |
| Deannasty Smith |
Texas A&M International |
F |
Sr. |
Kinesiology |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Kaycee Groves |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
G/F |
Jr. |
Biomedical Sciences |
Faith, S.D. |
| Averee Kleinhans |
Texas Woman's |
G |
Sr. |
Dietetics |
Nocona, Texas |
| Umi Otsuka |
UT Dallas |
G |
Jr. |
Interdisciplinary Studies |
Tokyo, Japan |
| Kenadi Rising |
UT Permian Basin |
G |
Gr. |
Kinesiology |
Rapid City, S.D. |
| Polina Latysheva |
UT Tyler |
G |
Jr. |
Management |
Moscow, Russia |
| Kyla Kane |
West Texas A&M |
G |
Sr. |
Sports & Ex. Science |
Wellington, Texas |
| Natalie Magallanes |
Western New Mexico |
G |
So. |
Kinesiology |
Midland, Texas |
