INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) released its 2025-26 preseason women's basketball poll on Oct. 21, with Drury voted by conference coaches to finish atop the league.
 
Earning 191 points and ten first-place votes, the Lady Panthers topped the poll. Maryville followed closely, securing 165 points, while Lewis received 163 points and four first-place votes. Missouri S&T, despite gaining a single first-place vote, landed in fifth place behind Missouri-St. Louis.
 
This marks the first time Drury has been picked to win the GLVC under Kaci Bailey. The last time Drury was voted to win the league was prior to the 2022-23 season, a season in which Drury won the league regular season title and tournament title. This is the third time that Drury has been picked to win the GLVC in the non-divisional format. When the league was in the divisional format, the Lady Panthers were preseason favorites 13 times.
 
Kaci Bailey enters her third season at the helm of the Lady Panthers. Last season, Drury went 22-7 and reached the GLVC Semifinals before bowing out to eventual tournament champion, Quincy.
 
The Lady Panthers open their exhibition season on Nov. 11 against William Woods in the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
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