ATLANTIC CITY, NJ— The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced the 2024-25 Women's Basketball Preseason All-MAAC Teams and Coaches' Poll on Tuesday morning. Iona was represented with graduate student
Ella Fajardo on the preseason All-MAAC second team while the Maroon & Gold were voted to finish sixth by the league's coaches.
ELLA FAJARDO
Fajardo had a stellar second campaign in 2024-25 for Iona, posting a career-high 9.3 points per game to pair with 2.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. She led the Maroon & Gold in assists and ranked eighth in the MAAC with a 35.1% three-point field goal percentage on the season. Fajardo posted 14 double-digit scoring efforts including three 20-point performances in MAAC play. She tallied a career-high 22 points at Siena (1/25/25) on 8-of-12 shooting including a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown.
MAAC Preseason Poll
Fairfield, the reigning back-to-back conference champions were the unanimous preseason favorite with 13 first place votes. Quinnipiac was tabbed second followed by Mount St. Mary's and Marist at third and fourth respectively. Siena rounded out the top five, just three points ahead of the Maroon & Gold on the poll.
The conference begins its second season as a 10-team tournament and also moves up a week in the calendar. The 2026 MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships last week that will be held a historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on March 5-10, 2026.
Iona enters its third season under head coach
Angelika Szumilo. The Gaels return 10 letterwinners from a season ago, including two starters in Fajardo and junior forward
Zoey Ward. Five newcomers joined the program for the 2025-26 campaign with transfer graduate students
Isabellah Middleton and
Naomi Barnwell along with junior
Claudia Fiel to accompany two first-year student-athletes in
Johanna Flores and
Wilma Tuomi.
2025 MAAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
| PLACE |
SCHOOL |
VOTES (FIRST PLACE) |
| 1. |
Fairfield |
169 (13) |
| 2. |
Quinnipiac |
132 |
| 3. |
Mount St. Mary's |
132 |
| 4. |
Marist |
128 |
| 5. |
Siena |
103 |
| 6. |
Iona |
100 |
| 7. |
Manhattan |
95 |
| 8. |
Merrimack |
76 |
| 9. |
Canisius |
69 |
| 10. |
Saint Peter's |
51 |
| 11. |
Niagara |
48 |
| 12. |
Sacred Heart |
43 |
| 13. |
Rider |
14 |
2025 Preseason ALL-MAAC FIRST TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Meghan Andersen^* |
Fairfield |
Roadrunner |
| Janelle Brown |
Marist |
Guard |
| Kaety L'Amoreaux |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Anna Foley |
Quinnipiac |
Forward |
| Jackie Grisdale |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
^denotes MAAC Preseason Player of the Year
* denotes unanimous selection
2025 Preseason ALL-MAAC SECOND TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Ella Fajardo |
Iona |
Guard |
| Lexie Tarul |
Marist |
Guard |
| Danielle Williamsen |
Marist |
Guard |
| Madison Roman |
Center |
Merrimack |
| Gabrielle Kennerly |
Mount St. Mary's |
Guard |
| Karson Martin |
Quinnipiac |
Guard |
2025 Preseason ALL-MAAC THIRD TEAM
| PLAYER |
TEAM |
POSITION |
| Shariah Gailes |
Canisius |
Forward |
| Alli Campbell |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Cyanne Coe |
Fairfield |
Guard |
| Brianna Davis |
Manhattan |
Guard |
| Amelia Wood |
Sacred Heart |
Guard |
UP NEXT
Iona begins the 2025-26 campaign on Monday, November 3 with an 11 a.m. tip-off against Mercy University at the Hynes Athletic Center. Single game and season tickets for the 2025-2026 Iona Basketball season are on sale now. Visit
IonaTickets.com to secure single-game or season tickets for the upcoming season now!
