Pios Slotted Third in Preseason Poll of Metro Conference Head Coaches
9/16/2026 9:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FULL METRO CONFERENCE RELEASE
Atlantic City, N.J. – In a preseason tally of the Metro Conference's 13 head coaches, the Sacred Heart women's basketball team was selected to finish third following the 20-game regular season while placing three players on Preseason All-Metro Teams; Oralye Kiefer (First Team), Nalyce Dudley (Second Team), Sophie Nascimento (Third Team).
The Pios collected 134 points in the preseason poll with reigning league champion Fairfield (169) and Siena (141) as the only two teams to finish ahead of the Pioneers. Fairfield finished as the unanimous choice to repeat as Metro Conference Champions.
The 134 points for Sacred Heart put them seven points ahead of Iona while the top four were separated by the next team by nearly 10 points with Mount St. Mary's fifth with 108 points. Quinnipiac rounded out the top six with 103 points, followed by Marist (87 points), Manhattan (83), Merrimack (80) and Saint Peter's who rounded out the top-10 with 50 points. Rider (43), Canisius (42) and Niagara (16) wrapped up the 13-team preseason rankings.
Individually, Kiefer adds the preseason first team honor after earning All-Defensive distinction a year ago before transferring to Sacred Heart from Merrimack. Kiefer closed out last season ranked ninth in NCAA Division I in blocks per game with 2.41 while finishing fourth among the Warriors with 10.2 points per game.
Dudley was one of three Pios to start all 31 games last season and is Sacred Heart's leading returning scorer after putting up 12.3 points per game a season ago. The now senior post player is a threat from outside the arc as well, finishing her junior year second on the team with 27 three point field goals, while hauling in 5.2 rebounds per game.
Earning a spot among the starting five as the Pioneers point guard, Nascimento wrapped up her rookie campaign fourth on the team with a 7.6 point per game average while finishing out the season with 63 assists and 43 steals. Her 63 assists was third most among the team while she was second overall with her 43 steaks.
The Pioneers will tip off the 53rd season in program history on the road with first of seven trips to the Empire State, beginning with a visit to Syracuse to take on the Orangewomen on Tuesday, November 3rd.
2026 Preseason Metro Coaches Poll
1. Fairfield 169 points (13 first place votes)
2. Siena 141
3. Sacred Heart 134
4. Iona 127
5. Mount St. Mary's 108
6. Quinnipiac 103
7. Marist 87
8. Manhattan 83
9. Merrimack 80
10. Saint Peter's 50
11. Rider 43
12. Canisius 42
13. Niagara 16
