Skyhawks Picked Fourth In OVC Preseason Poll
10/15/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2026-27 Ohio Valley Conference season in the annual vote of the league's head coaches and athletic communication contacts, the conference announced Thursday.
The Skyhawks earned 78 total points, seven behind third-place Western Illinois and 10 ahead of fifth-place Lindenwood. Southern Indiana topped the poll with 122 points and 13 of 18 first-place votes, while SIUE was second with 113 points and four first-place votes. Western Illinois received the remaining first-place vote. In the bottom half of the poll, Southeast Missouri (62) was sixth, Eastern Illinois (50) was seventh, Morehead State (41) was eighth, and Tennessee State (29) was ninth.
UT Martin has been picked fourth in the preseason poll on just two previous occasions, in 2021-22 and 2023-24. The last time the Skyhawks were picked fourth, in advance of the 2023-24 season, they finished the regular season in third place and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
UT Martin will officially begin its 2026-27 campaign November 2 at home at the Elam Center when it hosts former OVC rival Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. Skyhawk season ticket packages are now on sale through the UT Martin Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
2026-27 Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southern Indiana (13) – 122
2. SIUE (4) – 113
3. Western Illinois (1) – 85
4. UT Martin – 78
5. Lindenwood – 68
6. Southeast Missouri – 62
7. Eastern Illinois – 50
8. Morehead State – 41
9. Tennessee State – 29
The Skyhawks earned 78 total points, seven behind third-place Western Illinois and 10 ahead of fifth-place Lindenwood. Southern Indiana topped the poll with 122 points and 13 of 18 first-place votes, while SIUE was second with 113 points and four first-place votes. Western Illinois received the remaining first-place vote. In the bottom half of the poll, Southeast Missouri (62) was sixth, Eastern Illinois (50) was seventh, Morehead State (41) was eighth, and Tennessee State (29) was ninth.
UT Martin has been picked fourth in the preseason poll on just two previous occasions, in 2021-22 and 2023-24. The last time the Skyhawks were picked fourth, in advance of the 2023-24 season, they finished the regular season in third place and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
UT Martin will officially begin its 2026-27 campaign November 2 at home at the Elam Center when it hosts former OVC rival Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. Skyhawk season ticket packages are now on sale through the UT Martin Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
2026-27 Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Southern Indiana (13) – 122
2. SIUE (4) – 113
3. Western Illinois (1) – 85
4. UT Martin – 78
5. Lindenwood – 68
6. Southeast Missouri – 62
7. Eastern Illinois – 50
8. Morehead State – 41
9. Tennessee State – 29
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