Lady Eagles Picked Third in AMC Preseason Poll

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (10/21/25) – The Williams Baptist University women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the American Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, the league revealed on Tuesday afternoon.

Williams claimed its first league championship in 2024-25 after going 28-5 overall and 21-1 in AMC play.  The Lady Eagles secured an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament as a nine seed, where the squad took down No. 8 Mobile in the first round before falling in the round of 32 to No. 1 Campbellsville.

WBU earned 69 total points in the poll alongside two first place votes.  Stephens finished in second place with 71 and two first place votes, and Columbia was picked to win the AMC with 77 points and five first place votes.

WBU returns AMC co-Sixth Woman of the Year Sara Crowe and Taylor Hooten to the court this year, alongside top newcomer Joi Montgomery.  Crowe and Hooten appeared in all 33 games for Williams last season.  Crowe averaged 7.6 PPG, while Hooten posted 7.0 PPG and 4.3 APG.  Joi Montgomery averaged 18 PPG and 12.8 RPG in 10 games for Crowley's Ridge in 2024-25.

The Lady Eagles will begin the 2025-26 season at home on Tuesday, Oct. 28 against Missouri Baptist.  Tip-off against the Spartans is set for 5:30 p.m. from inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.