RICHMOND, Ky. — Eastern Kentucky University's Liz Freihofer and Kirsten Lewis-Williams earned spots on the 2026-27 Preseason All-United Athletic Conference women's basketball team and EKU was picked to finish second in the league, the UAC announced on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Coming off an Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championship and a third consecutive 20-win season, for the first time in school history, EKU enters its sixth year under head coach Greg Todd with a returning first team all-conference selection in Freihofer and an experienced addition in Lewis-Williams.
 
Freihofer, a junior guard from Union, Kentucky, started all 34 games last season, averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists while earning first-team All-ASUN honors and the league's scholar-athlete of the year award.
 
She scored in double figures 26 times and made 73 3-pointers, shooting 38% from beyond the arc and 88% at the free-throw line.
 
After setting EKU's freshman record with 70 3-pointers in 2024-25, Freihofer continued her climb through the program's record book last season. Her 143 career makes rank seventh in school history entering her junior year.
 
Lewis-Williams brings experience from South Florida and Buffalo, where she earned Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2024 before helping the Bulls win the 2025 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
 
The senior guard from Mooresville, North Carolina, averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 steals during Buffalo's championship season, earning second-team All-MAC recognition and scoring 18 points in the title game against Troy.
 
She spent last season at South Florida, appearing in 30 games with eight starts before transferring to EKU this summer.
 
Eastern Kentucky opens the 2026-27 season on Monday night on the road at UT Martin. Tipoff in the season opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
 
2026-27 Preseason UAC Coaches Poll
1. Abilene Christian (8)
2. Eastern Kentucky
3. Central Arkansas (1)
4. Austin Peay
5. UT Arlington
6. Tarleton State
7. Little Rock
8. West Georgia
9. North Alabama