2025-2026 Women’s Basketball Season Preview

 









2024-2025 record: 4-24 (3-21 Heart)
Starters returning/lost: 0/5
Letterwinners returning/lost: 3/13

Notable returners:
Kayla Peoples, Sr., Waco, Texas
(Letterwinner, 4.5 points/game, 23 assists, 13 steals)
Taylor Lawhorne, Sr., Amityville, N.Y.
(2023-2024 letterwinner, 3.6 points/game, 3.4 rebounds/game)
Amaria Turner, Jr., Des Moines, Iowa
(Letterwinner, 5.2 points/game)

Notable losses:
Carlee West
(All-Heart)
Aysia Arrowood
(Letterwinner)
Mariah Baltierra
(Letterwinner)
Jaida Smith
(Letterwinner)

Notable newcomers:
Kayla Jones, Fr., Louisville, Ky.
Reagan Pavesi, Jr., Austin, Texas
Laney Parker, Jr., Springfield, Ill.
Meghanne Freehill, Jr., Lewiston, Ill.
Dekota Smith, Jr., Toledo, Ohio

The William Penn women's basketball team will look to a plethora of newcomers to push it back up the league standings as it hits the hardwood for the 2025-2026 season.

First-year Head Coach Sheawn Bedford Jr., who led the team as interim coach for the final 16 games of last year, will head a Statesmen crew that went 4-24 record (3-21 Heart) during the 2024-2025 campaign.

Several members of the navy and gold are expected to have their versatility showcased during the year, playing numerous different positions.

Point Guard

A trio of newcomers will vie for the starting point guard gig with Kayla Jones (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Psychology), Meghanne Freehill (Jr., Lewiston, Ill., Sports Management), and Amaya Terrell (Jr., Maquoketa, Iowa, Sociology) all looking to find time on the court.

Shooting Guard

Returners Kayla Carman (Sr., Gallitin, Tenn., Nursing) and Cortlynn Jackson (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Sports Management) have experience playing under Bedford, while Laney Parker (Jr., Springfield, Ill., Business Management) and Reagan Pavesi (Jr., Austin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) have shown promise during the preseason.

Carman missed 2024-2025 due to injury (2.0 points per game in 2023-2024), while Jackson knocked down 11 three-pointers as a sophomore.

Forward

Kayla Peoples (Sr., Waco, Texas, Secondary Education) is back to headline the forwards, while newcomers Dekota Smith (Jr., Toledo, Ohio, Applied Computer Science), Neva'eh Diaz-Doolin (Fr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology), and Breacia Carter (Jr., South Beloit, Ill., General Accounting) are in the mix as well.

Peoples averaged 4.5 points a year ago.

Center

WPU has its most returning depth in the post with Amaria Turner (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Human Services) heading the way.  The junior scored 5.2 points per game a year ago alongside 2.8 rebounds.

Two years ago, Taylor Lawhorne (Sr., Amityville, N.Y., Business Management) averaged 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, while Aliya Wagamon (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa) will also bolster the Statesmen after redshirting last year.

Chudear Mach (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Kinesiology) should make an impact on the blocks as well.

Schedule/Conference

The season launches Thursday in Pella against old Iowa Conference foe Central.  The Statesmen are home for the first time on November 4 against College of Saint Mary (Neb.), while Heart of America Athletic Conference action starts on November 15 versus Benedictine.