The Illinois Springfield women's basketball team was picked 12th of 15 teams in the 2025-26 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) preseason coaches' poll, the league office announced Tuesday.
Drury was voted the preseason favorite to win the GLVC, receiving 10 first-place votes and 191 total points. Rounding out the top of the poll were Maryville, Lewis, Missouri-St. Louis, and Missouri S&T.
Illinois Springfield, which finished last season 5-23 overall and 4-16 in GLVC play, struggled early but won five games after the holiday break.
The Prairie Stars return second-team All-GLVC selection
Kayla Rice and two additional experienced upperclassmen. The roster is bolstered this season by two graduate transfers and a talented freshman class, giving second-year head coach
Olivia Birt a veteran and versatile group with high expectations for 2025-26.
UIS opens the season Nov. 14 at Hillsdale. GLVC play begins on the road at Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday, Nov. 29.
The
full preseason poll listed:
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-place votes) |
| 1. |
Drury |
191 (10) |
| 2. |
Maryville |
165 |
| 3. |
Lewis |
163 (4) |
| 4. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
158 |
| 5. |
Missouri S&T |
141 (1) |
| 6. |
McKendree |
135 |
| 7. |
Truman State |
108 |
| 8. |
Upper Iowa |
101 |
| 9. |
Rockhurst |
85 |
| 10. |
Quincy |
84 |
| 11. |
Indianapolis |
83 |
| 12. |
Illinois Springfield |
60 |
| 13. |
Southwest Baptist |
55 |
| 14. |
William Jewell |
24 |
| 15. |
Lincoln |
22 |
The Prairie Stars open the 2025-26 season with a roster ready to mix experienced returners with new talent, aiming to climb the GLVC standings and build momentum toward the conference tournament.
