Upstart Women's Basketball Picked Third in SAC Preseason Poll

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The John Brown University women's basketball team has been selected third in the 2025-26 Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday morning (Oct. 21).

The Golden Eagles earned 87 points in the poll after finishing seventh in the conference last season with an overall record of 13-16 and a league mark of 11-13. JBU fell to Wayland Baptist in the conference tournament quarterfinals.

Reigning champion Langston (Okla.) garnered the top spot in the preseason poll with 121 points and 11 first-place votes. Last year, the Lions posted a 32-3 overall record and a league-best 23-1 while claiming both the SAC regular season and tournament titles. LU advanced to the NAIA National Tournament final site before falling to eventual national champion Dordt in the quarterfinals. Texas Wesleyan was picked second with 96 points and one first-place vote, while College of the Ozarks (Mo.) rounded out the top four with 86 points.

The Blue and Gold return three all-conference performers from last season. Sophomore guard Sarah Snodgrass, who garnered All-SAC Second Team and All-Freshman Team honors, averaged 18.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game while recording 24 double-doubles in her freshman campaign. Junior guard Abbey Sanders returns after receiving Third Team All-SAC recognition. The SAC's top three-point shooter connected at a 43 percent clip from beyond the arc. Sophomore forward Caelyn Ferguson averaged 12.2 points per game and was named the SAC Sportsmanship Award winner.

With a strong core of returning talent, the Golden Eagles welcome seven newcomers to the roster for the 2025-26 season, including five freshmen and two junior college transfers.

Brianna Colby helped Oklahoma Bible Academy capture the 2A state championship in 2025 after a state runner-up finish in 2024. The 5-8 guard from Enid, Oklahoma averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game during her high school career. She received Defensive Player of the Year honors twice.

Junior forward Josie Hummel transfers to John Brown after two seasons at Midland College in Texas. The 6-2 post player from Castle Rock, Colorado posted 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game during her sophomore season while shooting 47 percent from the field. She was named to the All-Conference team twice during her high school career at Douglas County.

Oaklee Lofton brings serious firepower to the backcourt. The 5-5 guard from DeQueen, Arkansas averaged 31.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 steals per game during her senior season at Legacy Academy. She established multiple program records, including most career points (2,637) and most points in a single game (58). Lofton helped the Warriors capture the 1A state title in 2023.

Junior forward Hannah McLain joins the program after two seasons at National Park College, where she received first team All-Region and first team All-Academic honors while helping the Nighthawks capture a regional championship. The 6-0 forward from Cove, Arkansas also garnered first team All-Region recognition during her freshman season at the University of Arkansas at Cossatot.

Zoja Nagode arrives from Dovce, Slovenia with international experience. The 6-1 forward competed at the senior level last season, contributing to a third-place national championship finish and a Women's Adriatic Basketball Association League title. The Gimnazija Bežigrad graduate helped her club teams capture multiple national championships at various age levels.

Tayla Trammell surpassed 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds at Valley Springs High School. The 6-0 forward from Arkansas recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 blocks during her junior season. She helped the Tigers capture the district championship in 2024 and was named to the All-Conference team three times.

Jadyn Williams comes to Siloam Springs from Mingo Valley Christian in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 5-7 guard helped the Eagles capture four consecutive Cherokee Conference championships and two Heartland Christian Athletic Association regional championships. She was named Offensive Player of the Year and received the Talon Award as the program's top female athlete during her senior season.

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