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Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
‘Cats Picked Third, Three Players Earn Preseason Honors
9/30/2025 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Davidson women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10, the league office announced Tuesday with the revealing of its annual preseason coaches' poll, while three Wildcats — Charlise Dunn, Katie Donovan and Candice Lienafa — were named to the league's preseason teams.
Last season, the Wildcats posted their best record under head coach Gayle Fulks. Davidson won 19 games and a program-best 13 in the league en route to a third-place finish, their highest finish since joining the league in 2014. The 2024-25 season was capped by Davidson's first-ever at-large selection into the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT)
Dunn, a senior guard and Victoria, Australia, native, garnered A-10 Preseason First Team and All-Defensive team honors after leading the 'Cats in nearly every offensive statistical category a season ago. She averaged 12.0 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game while matching the team lead in three-pointers with 54 made on the season. Her defense was also elite. She led the team in steals per game (1.6) and defensive rebounds (128) while ranking third in the conference with 1.2 blocks per game.
Joining Dunn with preseason accolades is junior guard Donovan, who was tabbed to the A-10 Second Team, and sophomore forward Lienafa, who earned A-10 Third Team honors.
Donovan was the second leading scorer for the Wildcats in 2024-25, averaging 10.1 points per game, and she led the team in field goal makes with 121. Donovan played the most minutes on the team, averaging 30.5 per game while shooting .420 from the field and .305 from three. She also tallied 12 double-digit scoring nights and scored more than 20 points three times for the Wildcats.
Lienafa was selected to the 2025 A-10 All-Rookie team after appearing in 32 games for the Wildcats and making six starts as a true freshman. She averaged 7.4 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game while holding the team's second-best three-point percentage at .400 and shooting 55.4 percent from the floor.
Defending regular-season champion Richmond (188 points) was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving nine first-place votes. George Mason (185 points) earned the second spot in the poll with four first-place votes while Davidson received 167 points and one first-place vote in the third position.
The 'Cats return 11 players from the 2025-24 roster while welcoming a promising four-member incoming class featuring three freshmen and one transfer.
The 2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championships will return to Richmond, Va., at the Henrico Sports and Entertainment Center March 4-9.
Players Mentioned
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