HACKENSACK, N.J. – The NEC released its preseason honors ahead of the 2026-27 women's basketball season on Monday. The FDU Knights were picked to finish first in the conference for the third consecutive season, while sophomore
Leah Crosby and senior
Rebecca Osei-Owusu were named to the Preseason All-NEC Team.
The Knights enter the season looking to continue their historic run under head coach Stephanie Gaitley after capturing back-to-back NEC regular-season and tournament championships. FDU finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 30-5 overall record and an undefeated 18-0 mark in conference play, becoming the first team in NEC history to record back-to-back undefeated conference regular seasons alongside consecutive tournament titles. The Knights received six first-place votes in the preseason poll.
Coach Gaitley, a three-time Brenda Reilly NEC Coach of the Year, will lead the Knights as they pursue a third consecutive conference championship and their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Crosby and Osei-Owusu earned preseason recognition after impactful performances in FDU's championship run. Crosby made an immediate impact during her freshman season, earning NEC Rookie of the Week honors three times and a spot on both the NEC All-Rookie Team and All-Tournament Team. She averaged 7.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double in the NEC Championship game.
Osei-Owusu returns for her senior season after helping the Knights secure their second consecutive conference title. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting a league-best 57.7 percent from the field. She recorded three double-doubles during the 2025-26 campaign and will look to take on an even larger role this season.
FDU also returns sophomore guard Reese Downey, who earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors twice last season, as the Knights look to build on their championship experience and extend their conference winning streak.
The Knights open the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 2, in Waco, Texas, against the Baylor Bears before traveling to Austin to take on the No. 6 Texas Longhorns on November 4, as FDU looks to continue its historic run and become the first NEC program since Saint Francis (2002-05) to win three consecutive conference tournament championships.
Connect with FDU Women's Basketball on X and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.
