NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Caldwell University women's basketball, under the direction of fifth-year Head Coach Christie Conforti, has been selected to finish third in the preseason poll of Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CACC) coaches, the league announced today. The Cougars earned one first place vote in the poll.

Conforti's Cougars return 13 letterwinners and welcome two transfers and one freshman to the 2025-26 squad. 

Caldwell (17-13 overall, 10-6 in CACC play last year) is led by two All-CACC performers in junior guard Jah'Nel Lewis (Jersey City, N.J.) and senior forward Lucy Coogan (Kilkenny, Ireland), as well as CACC Defensive Player of the Year junior guard Brooke Corbett (Staten Island, N.Y.). 

The Cougars open at the NE10-CACC Conference Challenge at Adelphi University on Nov. 14-15 vs. host Adelphi and Pace.

Formerly divided into North and South divisions, the CACC will function as a single standings table in 2025-26, with a double round-robin schedule through the season. The top eight teams will advance to the CACC Tournament, with the top four hosting first round games. 

Caldwell University's Newman Center will serve as host site for the Championship Semifinals and Finals, March 7-8.

2025-26 CACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

1. Holy Family (7), 96 pts.
2. Jefferson (3), 91
3. Caldwell (1), 80
4. Dominican, 65
5. Chestnut Hill, 60
    Felician, 60
7. Post, 53
8. Goldey-Beacom, 42
9. Georgian Court, 26
10. Bridgeport, 22
11. Wilmington, 10

() - First-Place Votes