CBU Picked 4th in Big West Preseason Poll; Olsen Named to All-Big West List
10/15/2026 9:01:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University women's basketball team was picked fourth in its first-ever Big West Preseason Coaches Poll as the Lancers enter their inaugural season in the new conference.
The Lancers are coming off another 20+ win season in which they won the Western Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles en route to their second-ever March Madness berth. CBU was picked fourth behind reigning Big West Champions, UCSD, who were picked first, UCI in second, and UCSB in third.
In addition to being picked fourth, star guard Lauren Olsen was named to the Preseason Team after leading the Lancers in scoring as a true freshman last season. Olsen was named to the All-WAC First Team and was the WAC Freshman of the Year with season averages of 14.8 ppg, 2 apg, and 2.8 ppg. Olsen posted seven games with at least 20 points last season, including a season-high 27 points at Pacific, which was the second-most points scored by a freshman in a single game in program history. Olsen also set the DI record for points scored in a single season by a freshman with 502.
Olsen and the Lancers open the season on Wednesday, November 4, on the road against Oregon State.
2026-27 Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll:
- UC San Diego 120 (10)
- UC Irvine 108 (1)
- UC Santa Barbara 94
- California Baptist 93
- Sacramento State 88 (1)
- Utah Valley 70
- UC Riverside 59
- CSUN 53
- Cal Poly 35
T-10. Cal State Bakersfield 25
T-10. Long Beach State 25
12. Cal State Fullerton 22
2026-27 All-Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Team:
Zoe Borter- UC Santa Barbara
Erin Condron- UC San Diego
Janessa Cotton- Sacramento State
Lev Feiman- UC San Diego
Lauren Olsen- California Baptist
Natalie Picton- Sacramento State
Rosa Smith- UC San Diego
