North STL News

The University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) women's basketball team has been projected to finish fourth in the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) season, according to the annual preseason poll released by the league office on Tuesday. The poll, which ranks all 15 conference teams based on votes from league coaches, reflects expectations for the 2025-26 season.

Drury was selected as the favorite to win the GLVC championship, earning 191 points and ten first-place votes. Maryville, last year's runner-up, placed second with 165 points. Lewis, who won last season's regular season title, came in third with 163 points and four first-place votes. UMSL received 158 points for fourth place. Missouri S&T completed the top five with 141 points and one first-place vote.

According to GLVC rules, schools are not allowed to vote for themselves in this poll.

The top eight teams at the end of the regular season will qualify for a spot in the GLVC Basketball Championship Tournament scheduled for March 5-8 at UMSL’s Mark Twain Building.

Head coach Katie Vaughn returns for her 14th year leading UMSL. Last season, the Tritons finished with a record of 19-9 overall and went 13-7 in conference play. They advanced to the GLVC Tournament for the fourth time in five years.

Six players from last year’s squad are returning this season, including Alex Wolff, who was named Second Team All-GLVC. Wolff led returning scorers with an average of 10 points per game along with recording 19 blocked shots and eight steals last year. Senior Morgan Ramthun is back as the team’s top rebounder after averaging 8.7 rebounds per game during the previous campaign. Junior Mara Rieder contributed averages of 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and nearly one blocked shot per game.

Season tickets are currently available at $135 for adults and $108 for children; single-game tickets will go on sale beginning October 27.

UMSL will open its new season on November 14 against Roosevelt in Chicago at 1 p.m., followed by its home opener versus Purdue Northwest on November 25 at Mark Twain Building.

"The annual GLVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll was voted on by the league coaches and rank all 15 teams in predicted order of finish," stated league officials.