RICHARDSON, TEXAS – UT Tyler women's basketball has been picked third in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll for the second consecutive season, earning nine first-place votes and 755 total points, as announced by the conference.

Texas Woman's claimed the top spot with 828 points and West Texas A&M followed in second with 794 points. UT Tyler ranked third with 755 points, ahead of Lubbock Christian with 743 points and Eastern New Mexico with 644 points to round out the top five.

West Texas A&M junior guard/forward Kerbie Cash was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year. UT Tyler senior guard Polina Latysheva was once again selected to the LSC Players to Watch list.

Latysheva returns for her senior season after appearing in all 33 games for the Patriots during the 2025-26 campaign. She averaged 31.7 minutes per game and 10.2 points per contest while recording 114 assists. Latysheva earned All-Lone Star Conference Second Team honors last season as UT Tyler advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Semifinals.

The Patriots enter the 2026-27 season looking to build on another successful campaign under head coach Rebecca Alvidrez. UT Tyler finished 22-11 overall and 16-4 in conference play last season, earning its place in the South Central Regional Semifinals. Alvidrez enters her sixth season at the helm after compiling a 120-42 record through her first five seasons.

UT Tyler will open the 2026-27 season at the DII Tip-Off Classic hosted by Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, on Oct. 30-Nov. 1. The Patriots will face Montana State Billings on Oct. 30, Western Washington on Oct. 31 and tournament host Central Washington on Nov. 1.

The Patriots will return to Texas for the South Central Regional Challenge in Lubbock on Nov. 13-14 before making their home debut against Texas A&M-Texarkana on Nov. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Herrington Patriot Center.

UT Tyler opens Lone Star Conference play at home on Dec. 3 against Texas A&M-Kingsville and will look to make another postseason run following its regional semifinal appearance a season ago. The LSC Tournament is scheduled for March 4-7 in Frisco, with the NCAA Division II South Central Regionals set for March 12-15.

Preseason Poll

Preseason Player of the Year
Kerbie Cash, G/F, Jr., West Texas A&M
 

Players to Watch