Leia Edwards Earns Preseason All-Patriot League Honors, Lehigh Picked Third

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Patriot League announced its preseason poll and awards for women's basketball Thursday. The Mountain Hawks were picked third, garnering 67 points and one of a possible 10 first-place votes from the Patriot League's head coaches.

Sophomore Leia Edwards earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors. A season ago, Edwards averaged 13.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while appearing in 17 games. She scored in double figures in 12 of those 17 contests and was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week four times during the 2025-26 season.

Lehigh returns nine players from its 2025-26 squad, led by Edwards and seniors Whitney Lind, Gracyn Lovette and Jessie Ozzauto. Lind earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors a season ago after averaging 13.3 points per game. Lovette, a team captain last season, returns for her senior campaign after leading the Patriot League with 4.2 assists per game in 2025-26. Ozzauto also returns after averaging 12.5 points per game in 15 appearances last season.

Navy garnered 81 points to top the Patriot League preseason poll, receiving nine first-place votes. Army West Point was picked second with 71 points, followed by Lehigh with 67 points and one first-place vote. Holy Cross (53), Lafayette (52), Bucknell (37), Boston University (26), Colgate (22), Loyola Maryland (21) and American (20) rounded out the poll.

The Mountain Hawks will open the 2026-27 season on Nov. 2 in Los Angeles, California, against defending national champion UCLA. Lehigh will then return home for its home opener on Nov. 11, hosting Mount St. Mary's at 6 p.m. at Stabler Arena.

2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year: Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Sr., G

2026-27 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Camryn Tade, Army West Point, Sr., G
Kya Smith, Army West Point, Sr., F
Teresa Kiewiet, Lafayette, Sr., G
Leia Edwards, Lehigh, So., F
Zanai Barnett-Gay, Navy, Sr., G

2026-27 Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

Navy – 81 total points (9 first-place votes)
Army West Point – 71
Lehigh – 67 (1)
Holy Cross – 53
Lafayette – 52
Bucknell – 37
Boston University – 26
Colgate – 22
Loyola Maryland – 21
American – 20

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at UCLA on November 2, 2026 at TBA

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Monmouth University on November 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Mount St. Mary's (Md.) on November 11, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at University of Vermont on November 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Towson University on November 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball at Stony Brook University on November 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Liberty University on November 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Monmouth on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 62, to, 72

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #2 Holy Cross on March 15, 2026 , Loss , 70, to, 77

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus #1 Navy on March 12, 2026 , Win , 81, to, 76 , OT

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus #5 Loyola University Maryland on March 9, 2026 , Win , 68, to, 54

Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus American on March 4, 2026 , Loss , 60, to, 62

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Bucknell on February 28, 2026 , Loss , 45, to, 57

Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Boston University on February 21, 2026 , Win , 76, to, 61

Lehigh University Athletics

Leia Edwards Earns Preseason All-Patriot League Honors, Lehigh Picked Third

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Players Mentioned

Leia Edwards

Whitney Lind

Gracyn Lovette

Jessie Ozzauto

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