BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - The Long Island University women's basketball team was selected to finish 8th in the NEC this season, the conference announced in its preseason poll on Monday. 

Fairleigh Dickinson University was unanimously selected to win the league, followed by Stonehill College, Chicago State University, Le Moyne College, Central Connecticut State University, Mercyhurst University, Wagner College, LIU, the University of New Haven, and Saint Francis University. 

The Sharks return one starter this winter, junior guard Janessa Williams. The Lake Worth, Florida native started all 30 games for the Sharks last winter, averaging 12 points, 7.3 rebounds, and one assist per game in the 2024-25 season. 

LIU will feature plenty of new faces on the court this season, including transfers in junior Kadidia Toure (Arizona State, James Madison), senior Isabella Tañedo (Utah State), sophomore Laura Molnarova (JMU), Kionna Gaines (Clemson, Auburn, Kennesaw State), graduate student Janiya Reed (Xavier (La.)), graduate student Hannah Humphrey (East Texas A&M, UT Arlington, Blinn), and Solangelei Akridge (Alabama State).  

The Sharks also bring in five freshmen, as Leila Nuñez, Saran Diallo Toure, Kennady Gordon, Camille Wiley, and Carmela Nuñez all join the program. 

Leading from the bench will be first-year head coach Neil Harrow, who comes to Brooklyn after previously serving as the Associate Head Coach at JMU, where he helped guide the Dukes to three Sun Belt Conference championships and one NCAA Tournament appearance.  

LIU opens the 2025-26 season on the road against Northeastern University on Nov. 3.