EASTON, Mass. (Oct. 20, 2025) -- The Stonehill women's basketball team has voted to finish second in the NEC Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Monday. In addition, junior guard Brooke Paquette unanimously earned Preseason All-NEC honors.

The Skyhawks were chosen second behind defending champion FDU. Stonehill is coming off a 17-16 overall season last year, as the Skyhawks went 11-5 in the NEC, reaching the conference championship game and earning a spot in the WNIT for the first-time in program history. 

Paquette, a tri-captain who hails from Hudson, N.H., earned All-NEC second-team and Most Improved Player honors last year after starting all 33 games and averaging 13.2 points and 4.4 assists per contest. She also shot 83.9 percent from the foul line last season and enters her junior year having started 53 of a possible 63 games in her career.

Under the leadership of Trisha Brown, who is entering her 25th season at the helm as head coach, Stonehill will kick off the 2025-26 campaign with an exhibition against Bridgewater State at Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium on Monday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

2025-26 NEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. FDU (unanimous)
2. Stonehill
3. Chicago State
4. Le Moyne
5. CCSU
6. Mercyhurst
7. Wagner
8. LIU
9. New Haven
10. Saint Francis

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