LATHAM, N.Y. – Three members of the Cedar Crest College basketball team were recognized by the United East Conference as All-Conference selections, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.

Junior Samora Merchant (Danbury, Conn./Henry Abbott Technical) headlined the selections, being named as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year as well as First Team All-Conference. Merchant was a paint presence that the Falcons relied heavily on all season. The junior transfer was a force that opponents had to battle with as her 75 blocks not only topped the conference but also ranked sixth in the nation. The forward also cleaned the glass as her 225 boards led the United East. Her efforts nearly averaged a double-double as she averaged 9.4 rebounds and 11.8 points. Over the 27-game season, Merchant piled up 13 double-doubles including a 25-point, 10 rebound performance against Lancaster Bible. The Danbury, Conn. native collected Defensive Player of the Week honors from the conference on February 2.

Sophomore Ella Bincarosky (Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) accompanied Merchant on the First Team. She has played in and started all 27 games and has averaged 16.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Bincarosky netted double digit points in 22 games this season. She ranked fourth in the conference in scoring, third in field goal percentage (42.4), first in three-point field goal percentage (40.3) and first in three-point field goals per game (4). Bincarosky currently leads all NCAA Division in three-pointers made with 108. She was a two-time United East Conference Offensive Player of the Week award recipient this season.

Junior Analyse Rios (Orlando, Fla./Timber Creek) earns a Third Team All-Conference nod after playing in all 27 games, making 26 starts and averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.

Cedar Crest (18-9 overall) has qualified for the 2026 ECAC Division III Women's Basketball Championship as the No. 5 seed and will face fourth-seeded Rutgers-Camden in a quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 p.m.