#AEHoops 2025-26 Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Team

​NEWARK, NJ–The America East Conference released the 2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Monday and NJIT was selected to finish fifth, while senior Alejandra Zuniga was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

Zuniga, from Madrid, Spain, is a three-time America East Conference All-Conference selection.

Last season, Zuniga was picked to the America East first team, as a sophomore she was named to the second team and during her freshman campaign, Zuniga earned America East Rookie of the Year, America East Third team, America East All-Rookie team honors.

She is coming off a season which saw the Highlanders guard ranked third in the league in scoring (16.0ppg), third in assists (3.4), fifth in free throw percentage (65.0%) and fifth in field goal percentage (44.0%).

A season ago, Zuniga scored in double-digits in 23 games this season, including 13 games with 20 or more points. She scored her 1,000 career point on December 8, 2024 against Monmouth, becoming the 13th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.

Heading into her final season in a Highlander uniform, Zuniga has scored 1,278 career points which ranks fifth all-time at NJIT. 

NJIT was selected fifth with 37 points in the 2025-26 Preseason Poll after an 11-19 overall record, 8-8 in the conference.  The 11 wins marked the fourth straight season the Highlanders combined for double-digits victories and the eight America East wins were one shy of the program-mark.

The preseason favorite this season is the defending America East Conference Tournament Champions Vermont with 63 points (seven first place votes) followed by Maine with 55 points (two first place votes), Bryant (46), UAlbany (42), NJIT (37), Binghamton (26), New Hampshire (24), UMBC (23) and UMass Lowell (8).

America East Conference action tips off on New Year's Day, when the Highlanders make their first road contest in America East action and visit UMBC.  

The top eight teams will qualify for the 2026 #AEPlayoffs with all games at the higher seed.  The dates are: Quarterfinals: March 5; Semifinals: March 9; Final: March 13.

2025-26 Preseason Poll
1. Vermont 63 (7)
2. Maine 55 (2)
3. Bryant 46
4. UAlbany 42
5. NJIT 37
6. Binghamton 26
7. New Hampshire 24
8. UMBC 23
9. UMass Lowell 8

2025-26 Preseason All-Conference Team
Alejandra Zuniga G Sr. NJIT
Catherine Gilwee G Sr. Vermont
Adrianna Smith F Sr. Maine
Nikola Priede F Sr. Vermont
Eva DeChent G Jr. New Hampshire
Mia Mancini G Jr. Bryant