RALEIGH, N.C. - The William Peace University women's basketball team was selected fourth in the 2026-27 USA South Preseason Coaches Poll, released today by the conference.

The Pacers received 58 points, placing them fourth in the preseason poll. Preseason favorite Brevard, which eliminated Peace in last season's USA South Tournament semifinals, received 79 points and seven first-place votes. Pfeiffer was selected second with 68 points and two first-place votes, while N.C. Wesleyan was picked third with 64 points and one first-place vote.

The Pacers enter the upcoming season with plenty of momentum following one of the most impressive turnarounds in NCAA Division III women's basketball last year. After finishing 4-21 in 2024-25, Peace improved to 16-11 in 2025-26, recording 12 additional wins and advancing to the USA South Tournament semifinals.

The 12-win improvement ranked second nationally among Division III women's basketball programs, according to D3 Sports Data. The Pacers trailed only Denison University, which recorded a 16-win improvement en route to capturing the NCAA Division III National Championship.

Under the direction of head coach Annalee Bollinger, who enters her third season at the helm, the Pacers have quickly established themselves as a competitive force in the USA South. After winning just four games in her first season, Bollinger guided Peace to 16 victories in year two, including a 12-6 conference record, a fifth-place USA South finish and a postseason semifinal appearance.

"I'm thrilled to get another season underway," Bollinger said. "We are fortunate to have a talented team that is working hard and having a lot of fun together. This program has come a long way over the last two years and we're focused on continuing that momentum into year three."

The Pacers made significant strides on both ends of the floor last season, increasing their scoring average from 51.3 to 65.2 points per game while reducing their opponents' scoring average from 72.2 to 61.9. Peace also improved its rebounding average from 34.5 to 41.9 per contest and increased its field goal percentage from 29.0 to 37.6 percent.

Peace returns all five starters from last season's squad, including 2025-26 USA South Rookie of the Year Ensley Perry and Second Team All-Conference selection Zikira Henderson.

Henderson, a junior point guard, led the Pacers offensively last season, averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. She also recorded 50 steals while starting all 27 games.

Perry made an immediate impact during her freshman campaign, averaging 12.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field. The sophomore guard started all 27 games and finished second on the team in scoring.

Senior guard Alayna Randolph also returns after starting all 27 games last season. Randolph averaged 8.8 points per contest and led the Pacers with 61 steals while contributing 53 assists.

In the post, Peace brings back a strong combination of experience and production with senior forward Amiah Griffin and sophomore center Zakoreya Davis. Griffin averaged 7.3 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. Davis provided a strong defensive presence, leading the team with 34 blocked shots while averaging 5.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Along with its experienced returning core, Peace welcomes four newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact during the 2026-27 campaign.

Freshman point guard Zarah Gray joins the Pacers from Winston-Salem Christian, while twin forwards Gabby Love and Abby Love arrive from Heritage High School in Wake Forest. Freshman guard Leanna Maffett, a sharpshooter out of Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro, adds another offensive threat to the lineup.

With all five starters returning and a talented group of newcomers joining the program, the Pacers look to carry last season's momentum into Bollinger's third year as they continue their pursuit of a USA South Championship.

View the full 2026-27 women's basketball schedule here.

View the full 2026-27 USA South Preseason Poll release here.

Below is the 2026-27 USA South Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll: