NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 22, 2026) – Holy Family University has been chosen for first place in the 2026-27 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. The voting was conducted by the conference’s 11 head coaches and the results were announced today by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.

After winning the 2025-26 CACC regular-season championship and reaching the conference final, Holy Family (30-5, 20-0 CACC in 2025-26) became the first CACC women’s basketball team to win the NCAA Division II East Region title. The Tigers received seven first-place votes and 97 total points in the poll.

Felician University, the defending conference champion, was selected for second place with 85 points, including three first place votes. Thomas Jefferson University received the final first-place vote and was chosen for third place with 78 points, while Caldwell University was fourth at 75 points.

Chestnut Hill College finished in fifth place with 72 points, followed by Post University in sixth with 49. The No. 7 spot went to Dominican University New York with 42 points, followed by the 36 points of eighth-place Georgian Court University. Rounding out the balloting were the University of Bridgeport (35 points), Goldey-Beacom College (26), and Wilmington University (10).

The 2026-27 regular season begins on Monday, November 9, with conference action slated to start on Tuesday, November 24. The top eight teams in the standings at season’s end will qualify for the conference playoffs. The CACC Tournament quarterfinals will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2027, at campus sites, and Holy Family will host the semifinals and finals on March 6-7, 2027, at the Campus Center Gymnasium. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2027 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.

 

2026-27 CACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(first-place votes in parentheses)

Pl.	Team	Pts.
1.	Holy Family University (7)	97
2.	Felician University (3)	85
3.	Thomas Jefferson University (1)	78
4.	Caldwell University	75
5.	Chestnut Hill College	72
6.	Post University	49
7.	Dominican University New York	42
8.	Georgian Court University	36
9.	University of Bridgeport	35
10.	Goldey-Beacom College	26
11.	Wilmington University	10

 

 

Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.