NO. ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team was selected sixth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
Bentley University, an NE10 Championship finalist last season, was a unanimous pick to win the regular season, as it claimed all nine possible first-place votes and 81 points, finishing ahead of defending NE10 Champion Southern Connecticut State University, which received the remaining first-place vote and 69 points. Assumption University (64) was not far behind in third, with Adelphi University (53) in fourth. American International College (44) edged SNHU (42) for fifth, with Saint Michael's College (37), Pace University (26), Saint Anselm College (24) and Franklin Pierce University (10) wrapping up the remainder of the poll.
Entering her 22nd year as head coach, Karen Pinkos brings back nine players from a 2025-26 campaign that saw SNHU finish with a 14-13 record and notch an NE10 Championship first round upset, before falling in the semifinals. The Penmen have three of their top four scorers returning from a year ago, including senior Ava Winterburn (New Boston, N.H.), who averaged 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists, while shooting 40 percent from the field and leading the team with 59 made 3-pointers. Junior Samantha Pfeil (Methuen, Mass.) posted 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists, and leads the returners with a 47 percent field goal percentage. Junior Taylor Brennan (Southbury, Conn.) tallied 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds, while pacing the team with 3.7 assists, and shooting 39 percent from the field.
SNHU will open the season with a pair of neutral-site games at Goldey-Beacom College. The Penmen open up against Wilmington (Del.) University on Friday, Nov. 13 (5 p.m.), before taking on Goldey-Beacom on Saturday, Nov. 14 (1 p.m.). SNHU kicks off its home slate Tuesday, Nov. 24 (5:30 p.m.) when it plays host to St. Thomas Aquinas College. Be sure to check out @snhupenmen social media channels for the drop of the official 2026-27 schedule poster prior to the season opener.
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2026-27 NE10 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll
1. Bentley – 81(9)
2. Southern Connecticut – 69 (1)
3. Assumption – 64
4. Adelphi – 53
5. American Int'l – 44
6. Southern New Hampshire – 42
7. Saint Michael's – 37
8. Pace – 26
9. Saint Anselm – 24
10. Franklin Pierce – 10
