ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College basketball team was picked fourth in the United East Conference Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday.

The Falcons are coming off a successful 2025-26 campaign, collecting an 18-10 overall record (9-4 United East), making a run to the semifinals of the United East Conference Tournament and played in the ECAC Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament.

Cedar Crest returns seven players from last year's squad, headlined by All-Conference selections Samora Merchant (Danbury, Conn./Henry Abbott Technical), Ella Bincarosky (Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), and Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek), while welcoming in six newcomers. Merchant, the reigning United East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 225 rebounds and 75 blocked shots while averaging 11.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season.

Cedar Crest opens the 2026-27 season on Friday, November 6 at Gwynedd Mercy University at 6:00 p.m.