Photo by: Creighton Athletics
Bluejay Women's Basketball Selected Fifth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
10/21/2025 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
New York, N.Y. -- The Creighton Women's Basketball team were picked to finish fifth by BIG EAST coaches during the annual media day at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 21. No Bluejays were recognized on the BIG EAST All-Preseason Team.
Defending national champion UConn was a unanimous selection to defend its crown, while Marquette, Seton Hall and Villanova were respectively picked to finish second, third and fourth.
After the departure of four members of the starting lineup from the last two seasons, Creighton will turn to seniors Kiani Lockett and Kennedy Townsend to lead the way in 2025-26. A starter last season, Lockett delivered 195 points, shooting 45.2% from the field (71-of-156) in 900 minutes on the floor. Townsend was a small step behind with 190 points in just under 700 minutes, shooting 31.6% from long range (31-of-98).
Sophomores Elizabeth Gentry and Allison Heathcock will be asked to flourish with more consistent playing time, while the Bluejays brought in graduate transfer Grace Boffeli as well as six freshmen.
The incoming freshmen class is the highest rated recruiting class in Bluejay history, featuring three top-100 recruits in Ava Zediker (70), Neleigh Gessert (84) and Norah Gessert (89). The Bluejays have only had two top-100 players in program history, Audrey Faber (72) and Jaylyn Agnew (100).
The last time Creighton was selected fifth or below was the 2020-21 campaign. That season the Bluejays were also selected to finish fifth. Led by a talented freshman class, Creighton went on to reach the WNIT. One year later the group of sophomores reached the Elite 8, upsetting Colorado, Iowa and Iowa State in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The Bluejays open their exhibition season on Wednesday, October 22 in a home game against Missouri Western at 6:00 pm, Creighton also opens the regular season at home as the Bluejays face South Dakota State on Monday, November 3 at 6:00 pm.
2025-26 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
UConn - 100 (10 first-place votes)
Marquette - 85
Seton Hall - 80 (1)
Villanova - 78
Creighton - 61
St. John's - 56
Georgetown - 48
DePaul - 32
Butler - 30
Providence - 20
Xavier - 15
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year – Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year – Kelis Fisher, UConn, Fr., G
Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G *
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
Serah Williams, UConn, Sr., F *
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F *Â
Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G *
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G *
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, So., G *
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G *
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Honorable Mention
Kate Clarke, DePaul, Sr., G
Victoria Rivera, Georgetown, Sr., G
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, So., G
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* = Unanimous Selection
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Defending national champion UConn was a unanimous selection to defend its crown, while Marquette, Seton Hall and Villanova were respectively picked to finish second, third and fourth.
After the departure of four members of the starting lineup from the last two seasons, Creighton will turn to seniors Kiani Lockett and Kennedy Townsend to lead the way in 2025-26. A starter last season, Lockett delivered 195 points, shooting 45.2% from the field (71-of-156) in 900 minutes on the floor. Townsend was a small step behind with 190 points in just under 700 minutes, shooting 31.6% from long range (31-of-98).
Sophomores Elizabeth Gentry and Allison Heathcock will be asked to flourish with more consistent playing time, while the Bluejays brought in graduate transfer Grace Boffeli as well as six freshmen.
The incoming freshmen class is the highest rated recruiting class in Bluejay history, featuring three top-100 recruits in Ava Zediker (70), Neleigh Gessert (84) and Norah Gessert (89). The Bluejays have only had two top-100 players in program history, Audrey Faber (72) and Jaylyn Agnew (100).
The last time Creighton was selected fifth or below was the 2020-21 campaign. That season the Bluejays were also selected to finish fifth. Led by a talented freshman class, Creighton went on to reach the WNIT. One year later the group of sophomores reached the Elite 8, upsetting Colorado, Iowa and Iowa State in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
The Bluejays open their exhibition season on Wednesday, October 22 in a home game against Missouri Western at 6:00 pm, Creighton also opens the regular season at home as the Bluejays face South Dakota State on Monday, November 3 at 6:00 pm.
2025-26 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
UConn - 100 (10 first-place votes)
Marquette - 85
Seton Hall - 80 (1)
Villanova - 78
Creighton - 61
St. John's - 56
Georgetown - 48
DePaul - 32
Butler - 30
Providence - 20
Xavier - 15
BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year – Sarah Strong, UConn, So., F
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year – Kelis Fisher, UConn, Fr., G
Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
KK Arnold, UConn, Jr., G
Azzi Fudd, UConn, Gr., G *
Ashlynn Shade, UConn, Jr., G
Serah Williams, UConn, Sr., F *
Skylar Forbes, Marquette, Jr., F *Â
Halle Vice, Marquette, Jr., G
Lee Volker, Marquette, Gr., G *
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, Jr., G *
Jada Eads, Seton Hall, So., G *
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova, So., G *
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Honorable Mention
Kate Clarke, DePaul, Sr., G
Victoria Rivera, Georgetown, Sr., G
Meri Kanerva, Xavier, So., G
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* = Unanimous Selection
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Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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