DeLand, Fla. — With the 2025-26 season quickly on the horizon, the Stetson women's basketball team has officially turned the page to preseason, hitting the court to prepare for another run in the ASUN Conference. The Hatters open the new campaign Nov. 3 on the road at Alabama before returning home for their Insight Credit Union Arena debut on Tuesday, Nov. 6, against Warner.
Stetson's roster features 13 players this season, a balance of seven returners and seven newcomers. Leading the group is senior Cameron Thomas, the reigning ASUN Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-ASUN selection. Thomas delivered one of the most prolific seasons in recent program history, averaging 17.1 points per game — the highest by a Hatter since Brianti Saunders in 2015-16. She topped the ASUN leaderboard with 530 total points, scored 20 or more points in 11 contests, and set a season-high with 30 at the Holiday Hoops Classic.
Another key returner, graduate guard Mary McMillan, also returns after ranking third in the league with 120 assists a year ago. She dished out five or more assists in nine different games, including a 13-point, 10-assist double-double against North Florida. Junior Jorah Eppley and senior Promise Keshi add further experience as well, each appearing in 31 of Stetson's 33 games last season. Eppley shot 38 percent from beyond the arc, while Keshi anchored the defense with a team-high 25 blocks to go with 38 steals. Guards Noga Haran and Eva Bradshaw and forward Raven LeXander round out a seasoned returning core.
A familiar foe returns to the court this season as Aleah Sorrentino, a former All-ASUN forward with the Lipscomb Bisons, joins the Hatters' frontcourt. Sorrentino spent last season at UMass after averaging over 12 points and six rebounds in each of her seasons in Nashville, including a program season-record 94 offensive rebounds. She began her collegiate career in the SEC, enrolling early at Ole Miss and forgoing her senior year of high school.
Also making the trip to the Sunshine State from Massachusetts is guard/forward Rose Caso, who scored in double figures in 10 games with the Merrimack Warriors while pulling down 103 rebounds.
Adding to the backcourt, Stetson welcomed a pair of guards from the State of Georgia. La'Niya Richardson averaged over 20 points per game, starting 17 of her 28 appearances for Lincoln Trail College in Illinois, and earned NJCAA All-American honorable mention recognition. Joining her is Sierra Driessen, a skilled playmaker who averaged nearly 15 points per game while recording 138 assists for Garden City Community College in Kansas. Last season, the Hatters also landed a standout Midwest community college transfer in Thomas from Southwestern Michigan College.
Nigerian forward Favour Nmecha Anyaele averaged an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double on 54.5 percent shooting in 30 games at Ellsworth Community College. The Hatters' international presence grows further with Spain's Candela Garcia-Escribano, who made two starts in 17 games at Long Island last season, and Swiss newcomer Sophie Locatelli.
The Hatters are coming off a 16-15 campaign that included a 10-8 mark in ASUN play. They were dominant at home, finishing 12-3 at the Edmunds Center, and will aim to carry that success on the road after a 3-10 record away from DeLand. Head Coach Lynn Bria enters her 18th season at Stetson just two wins shy of 300 for her career with the Hatters. She is joined this season by new assistants Sydney Moss and Matt Petersen.
Season tickets for the 2025-26 basketball season are on sale now! Secure your seats now at GoHatters.com/tickets and be there to support the Hatters all season long. Season ticket holders enjoy priority seating at all home games, priority status for postseason tournament games, family-friendly pricing, and special activities throughout the year. Be loud. Be proud. Be a Hatter!
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
