Sparkill, N.Y. - St. Thomas Aquinas College was chosen to finish fifth in the East Coast Conference, as the 2025 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll was announced by the league.
The Spartans received 41 points, behind Daemen, who was picked first with 81 points and all nine first-place votes, Mercy, who was selected second with 72 points, the College of Staten Island, who holds the third spot in the standings with 51 points and D'Youville, who is fourth with 49 points. District of Columbia (6th/37 points), Molloy (7th/36 points), Queens (8th/21 points) and Roberts Wesleyan (9th/17 points) round out the poll.
STAC went 4-22 overall and 2-14 in the ECC during the 2024-2025 season, and missed the postseason for the first time under Head Coach Bill Cleary.
St. Thomas Aquinas will return nine players from the 2024-2025 team; Abby Jacoby (RSr.|G|21GP, 5.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.4 APG), Bailey Chapman (RJr.|G|10 GP, 9.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.4 APG), Alaila Thomas (So.|G|22 GP, 4.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.0 SPG), Rose Cok (So.|G|20 GP), Iyana Morel (So.|G/F|18 GP, 2.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG), Trinity Cheatom (Sr.|G|25 GP, 8.3 PPG 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG), Delaney Finnegan (Jr.|F|24 GP, 5.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.3 APG), Cassidy Mahaney (Jr.|G|21 GP, 7.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 APG) and Katie Purpura (So.|G|18 GP, 0.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG).
Angela William (Fr.|G/F|Brentwood, N.Y.|Brentwood), Tara Vulovic (Fr.|G/F|Belgrade, Serbia|St. Margaret's School), Jona Kabashi (Fr.|G/F|Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.|Putnam Valley), Toni Schuetze (Fr.|G/F|Rossdorf, Germany|Brecht), Isabella Leggett (Fr.|G|Southington, Conn.|Southington) and Vega Gil (RJr.|G/F|Pamplona, Spain|La Salle University) are set to make their debuts in maroon and gold, as the six makeup the team's new recruiting class.
Head Coach Bill Cleary returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Spartans and boasts a very talented and skilled lineup, as the Spartans seek their first ECC Championship and third trip to the NCAA Tournament under his tutelage.
Joining Cleary on the bench for the new season are former STAC Women's Basketball players Alexa Huertas (2018-2023) and Kaitlyn Kos (McCue) (2013-2017), along with Roberts Wesleyan (2020-2024)/Daemen (2024-2025) standout Danielle DiCintio.
St. Thomas Aquinas begins its new season at home in the STAC Basketball Classic on November 15 and 16, as the Spartans take on American International College and Assumption University. STAC's 28-game schedule features 12 non-conference games and 14 home matchups at Aquinas Hall. The first conference matchup comes on the road on December 3 against the University of the District of Columbia.
2025-26 ECC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Daemen - 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Mercy - 72 points
3. Staten Island - 51 points
4. D'Youville - 49 points
5. St. Thomas Aquinas - 41 points
6. District of Columbia - 37 points
7. Molloy - 36 points
8. Queens - 21 points
9. Roberts Wesleyan - 17 points
ECC Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Claire Pikett, Daemen (Sr., F, Holland, NY)