Trio of Bulldogs Named Preseason All-SoCon; Samford Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll
10.6.26 | Women's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Samford women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the Southern Conference preseason poll, while three Bulldogs were named on the Preseason All-SoCon team, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
Samford's players that garnered Preseason All-SoCon honors were sophomore guard Francie Morris, junior guard Briana Rivera, and sophomore guard Kaylee Yarbrough.
Morris earns this honor after a solid freshman campaign where she was named SoCon Sixth Woman of the Year and also a part of the league's All-Freshman team. Morris averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds, while ranking second on the team in assists (66) and steals (31).
Rivera earns preseason accolades after a strong sophomore season where she ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 points. Rivera led the entire SoCon in three-point field goals per game (3.0), while shooting 34.3-percent from beyond the arc.
Yarbrough garners preseason honors after a solid 2025-26 campaign, where she was named on the SoCon All-Freshman team. Yarbrough led the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 12.2 points, which ranked top ten in the SoCon. Yarbrough also held a team leading 128 field goals made.
Samford was voted to finish third in the preseason poll, voted on by the league's coaches, with 50 points and two of the nine first-place votes. Last season, Samford finished sixth in the league, but got hot in the postseason, capturing the 2025-26 SoCon Tournament crown and earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Furman earned the top spot with 56 points and three first-place votes, followed by Wofford with 54 points and two first-place votes. Following Samford were ETSU (44), Chattanooga (40), Tennessee Tech (28), Mercer (27), UNCG (17), and Western Carolina (8).
Samford opens the season in the Pete Hanna Center on Monday, Nov. 2, against Montevallo.
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2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)   Total Â
1. Furman (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 56
2. Wofford (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54
3. Samford (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 50
4. ETSU (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 44
5. Chattanooga (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 40
6. Tennessee Tech             28
7. Mercer                          27
8. UNCGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17
9. Western Carolina          8
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2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the YearÂ
Â
Gabby Mundy, So., G, Wofford Â
Â
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2026-27 Preseason All-SoCon Team Â
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Daniela López, Sr., G, ETSUÂ
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Carmen Richardson, Jr., G, ETSU Â
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Clare Coyle, Jr., F, Furman Â
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Alyssa Ervin, Jr., G, Furman Â
Â
Francie Morris, So., G, Samford Â
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Briana Rivera, Jr., G, Samford Â
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Kaylee Yarbrough, So., G, Samford Â
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LaReesha Cawthorn, So., F, Tennessee Tech Â
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Maddie Heiss, Sr., G, Wofford Â
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Gabby Mundy, So., G, WoffordÂ
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FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS
For the latest news and information on Samford women's basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordWBB (Facebook) and @SamfordWBB (Twitter).
Samford's players that garnered Preseason All-SoCon honors were sophomore guard Francie Morris, junior guard Briana Rivera, and sophomore guard Kaylee Yarbrough.
Morris earns this honor after a solid freshman campaign where she was named SoCon Sixth Woman of the Year and also a part of the league's All-Freshman team. Morris averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds, while ranking second on the team in assists (66) and steals (31).
Rivera earns preseason accolades after a strong sophomore season where she ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.7 points. Rivera led the entire SoCon in three-point field goals per game (3.0), while shooting 34.3-percent from beyond the arc.
Yarbrough garners preseason honors after a solid 2025-26 campaign, where she was named on the SoCon All-Freshman team. Yarbrough led the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 12.2 points, which ranked top ten in the SoCon. Yarbrough also held a team leading 128 field goals made.
Samford was voted to finish third in the preseason poll, voted on by the league's coaches, with 50 points and two of the nine first-place votes. Last season, Samford finished sixth in the league, but got hot in the postseason, capturing the 2025-26 SoCon Tournament crown and earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Furman earned the top spot with 56 points and three first-place votes, followed by Wofford with 54 points and two first-place votes. Following Samford were ETSU (44), Chattanooga (40), Tennessee Tech (28), Mercer (27), UNCG (17), and Western Carolina (8).
Samford opens the season in the Pete Hanna Center on Monday, Nov. 2, against Montevallo.
Â
2026-27 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (1st-place votes)   Total Â
1. Furman (3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 56
2. Wofford (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 54
3. Samford (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 50
4. ETSU (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 44
5. Chattanooga (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 40
6. Tennessee Tech             28
7. Mercer                          27
8. UNCGÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 17
9. Western Carolina          8
Â
2026-27 Preseason Southern Conference Player of the YearÂ
Â
Gabby Mundy, So., G, Wofford Â
Â
Â
2026-27 Preseason All-SoCon Team Â
Â
Daniela López, Sr., G, ETSUÂ
Â
Carmen Richardson, Jr., G, ETSU Â
Â
Clare Coyle, Jr., F, Furman Â
Â
Alyssa Ervin, Jr., G, Furman Â
Â
Francie Morris, So., G, Samford Â
Â
Briana Rivera, Jr., G, Samford Â
Â
Kaylee Yarbrough, So., G, Samford Â
Â
LaReesha Cawthorn, So., F, Tennessee Tech Â
Â
Maddie Heiss, Sr., G, Wofford Â
Â
Gabby Mundy, So., G, WoffordÂ
Â
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS
For the latest news and information on Samford women's basketball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordWBB (Facebook) and @SamfordWBB (Twitter).
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