KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown women's basketball will have a similar look to last year's group, bringing back 80% of its roster. The experience shows as KU was voted second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Thursday. KU had three first place votes.
 
The Maroon and Gold finished last season with a 19-10 overall record and 15-6 mark in the PSAC, second in the East behind Lock Haven (22-6, 18-3). KU hosted a PSAC quarterfinal round game for the second straight season, falling to Seton Hill. They have qualified for PSACs in each of the last nine seasons, winning the title during the 2024-25 season. They had the second ranked scoring defense in the conference last season, allowing just 56.4 ppg.
 
"We're looking forward to this season," said head coach Janet Malouf. "We're a veteran group and only have one freshman that's new. This is a pretty seasoned group, some playing a lot more minutes than others. Our best players will have to be the ones that play the most minutes."
 
Some of those returning veterans that Malouf will be relying on are point guards Bella Quinn (Ashland, Ky./Russell) and Jadyn Brenneman (New Fairfield, Conn./Western Reserve Academy), guard Taylor Gurysh (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), forward Madison Siggins (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and center Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East). Quinn led the team with 86 assists and ranked in the top 10 in the PSAC in assist/turnover ratio at 1.2. Siggins is the leading returning scorer at 9.4 ppg and averaged 3.4 rpg last season. Smuda led the conference with 63 blocks, tied for fifth most all-time in program history.
 
East Stroudsburg was picked first with three first place votes. Following KU, Millersville is third with two first place votes. Bloomsburg and West Chester and fourth and fifth, respectively. Shepherd is sixth, Shippensburg is seventh and Mansfield is eighth.
 
Kutztown kicks off its campaign with an exhibition game at Division I Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. KU's official schedule will begin with a non-conference game at Lock Haven on Tuesday, Nov. 10, before playing in the Jim Crawley Conference Challenge at Frostburg State on Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14. The PSAC schedule gets started with back-to-back games at Gannon and Edinboro on Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5. The home opener is set for Saturday, Dec. 19, against Seton Hill at 1 p.m., from Penn State Berks' Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center.
 
2026-27 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Polls (# of first place votes in parentheses)
 
EAST
 
1. East Stroudsburg (3)
2. Kutztown (3)
3. Millersville (2)
4. Bloomsburg
5. West Chester
6. Shepherd
7. Shippensburg
8. Mansfield
 
WEST
 
1. IUP (7)
2. Gannon (2)
3. Edinboro
4. California
5. Lock Haven
6. Clarion
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Slippery Rock
9. Seton Hill