Indianapolis, Ind. - After walking away with back to back GLVC Championships in 2024 and 2025, new Lewis University women's basketball head coach Dodie Dunson and his Lewis women's basketball team were voted to finish third in the latest GLVC preseason coaches poll.
Receiving four first place votes with a total of 163 points, Lewis falls behind Drury who took the first place spot receiving 10 first place votes and 191 total points and Maryville who received zero first place votes with 165 total points. Behind the Flyers is Missouri-St. Louis in fourth with 158 points. Missouri S&T (141) with one first place vote, McKendree (135), Truman State (108), Upper Iowa (101), Rockhurst (85), Quincy (84), Indianapolis (83), Ilinois Springfield (60), Southwest Baptist (55), William Jewell (24) and Lincoln (22) rounded out the rest of the poll.
First year head coach Dodie Dunson joins the program from the University of Evansville where he spent two years as the associate head coach. During his time the Purple Aces secured back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference wins. With him joins
Ana Haklicka (Dubrovnik, Croatia/Chicago State) as graduate assistant coach who spent last year on the court for the Flyers providing championship experience to the program.
GLVC All-Freshman honoree
Yahaira Bueno (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) returns to the floor this year for the Flyers. Playing in 30 games last year and starting six, she shot 30/35/85 while averaging five points off the bench.
Ally Cesarini (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) will suit up for Dunson's team this year after earning all All-GLVC Second Team honors last year. A starter in 29 of her 30 appearances, Cesarini ended the year averaging 10 points last season. Another starter from last year returning is defensive powerhouse
Gabi Hoover (Mishawaka, Ind./La Lumiere) who started in 28 of her 30 appearances. She averaged just under four points per game but offered five rebounds with 35 blocks and 15 steals on the season.
The Flyers begin the year at the Wisconsin Dells Invitational from Nov. 14-15 at the Justagame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Lewis opens the invitational with a 7 p.m. tilt against Northern Michigan and will wrap up the tournament the next day against Michigan Tech at 5 p.m. Tickets are also now on sale for all women's basketball home games as well.
For the latest news and updates on Lewis women's basketball, visit LewisFlyers.com and follow the Flyers on social media at @lewiswbball on Instagram and @LewisWBBall on X.
