INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) released its 2026-27 preseason women's basketball poll on Oct. 23, with Drury voted to finish third by the league's coaches.
 
Last season's tournament champion, Maryville, topped the poll with 186 points and six first-place votes. Missouri-St. Louis followed with 183 points and six first-place votes. The Lady Panthers rounded out the top three with 171 points and two first-place votes. Despite receiving a first-place vote, Missouri S&T was picked 10th in the poll.
 
Drury finished third in the conference standings last season after being selected as the preseason favorite.
 
Kaci Bailey enters her fourth season at the helm of the Lady Panthers. Last year, Drury went 21-8, extending the program's streak of 20-win seasons to 13. The Lady Panthers advanced to the GLVC semifinals before falling to eventual tournament champion Maryville.
 
Drury opens its exhibition schedule on Nov. 3 against Ottawa at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
FOLLOW THE LADY PANTHERS
For all the latest information on Drury athletics, please visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on Instagram, X, and Facebook