INDIANA, Pa. – Expectations remain high for IUP women's basketball heading into the 2026-27 season, with the Crimson Hawks selected as the preseason favorite in the PSAC West following a historic run to the NCAA Division II National Championship game.
IUP received seven first-place votes in the PSAC West Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's coaches. The Crimson Hawks will also enter the season ranked No. 4 nationally in the WBCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
The preseason recognition comes after IUP put together the most successful postseason run in program history in 2025-26. The Crimson Hawks captured the PSAC Tournament championship before continuing their run through the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional and earning the regional title.
That championship sent IUP to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, where the Crimson Hawks continued their postseason run all the way to the national championship game for the first time in program history.
Despite several changes to the roster, IUP brings back an experienced foundation with three starters returning from last season's national runner-up team in Belle Bosch, Marin Miller and Teresa Maggio.
Maggio returns as one of the Crimson Hawks' leading offensive threats after starting all 35 games last season. She averaged 15.3 points per game while shooting better than 40% from 3-point range, providing IUP with a consistent perimeter scoring option throughout the championship run.
Miller also started all 35 games and averaged 30 minutes per contest. She provided one of the defining moments of IUP's postseason when she connected on the game-winning 3-pointer in the Atlantic Region championship game, sending the Crimson Hawks to the Elite Eight.
Bosch rounds out IUP's trio of returning starters after making 33 starts a season ago. She averaged 24 minutes per game and provided an efficient presence offensively, shooting 50% from the field.
The three returning starters give IUP an experienced core as the Crimson Hawks incorporate a collection of new talent into the rotation.
IUP will have an opportunity to settle into the new season with an extended stretch at home. The Crimson Hawks open the 2026-27 campaign against Division III Pitt-Greensburg on Nov. 9 before continuing their season-opening homestand the following weekend against Point Park and Davis & Elkins.
Conference play begins Dec. 4 when IUP hosts Shippensburg.
With three starters back from a team that played for a national championship and a No. 4 national preseason ranking, the Crimson Hawks enter the new season looking to build on the deepest postseason run in program history while defending their status as the team to beat in the PSAC West.
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
