SCRANTON, Pa. – Following another historic campaign, The University of Scranton women's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with championship aspirations once again under head coach Ben O'Brien, who begins his fourth season leading the Lady Royals.
Scranton, projected to finish first in the Landmark Conference Preseason Poll, comes into the season ranked No. 2 nationally in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. The Lady Royals set program records last season with 2,438 points and 638 assists, powering one of the Landmark Conference's most dynamic and efficient offenses.
Reigning Landmark Conference Player of the Year Kaci Kranson, a Preseason First Team All-American, returns to anchor the lineup after a dominant 2024-25 season. Kranson played in 31 games, averaging 17.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field and 33% from three. She added 1.2 assists per game and totaled 51 steals and 10 blocks, ranking tied for first in the Landmark Conference in points and PPG. She scored double figures in 28 of 31 games, establishing herself as one of the nation's top players.
Also back for the Lady Royals is junior forward Elizabeth Bennett, an All-Region selection last season who appeared in 31 games, averaging 11.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game off the bench. Bennett also contributed 46 assists, 22 blocks, and 16 steals, scoring in double figures 17 times, including a streak of nine straight games from mid-January to mid-February.
Returning to the backcourt for Scranton is senior Kaeli Romanowski, who started all 31 games last season and averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She led the team and ranked second in the Landmark Conference with 118 assists and 99 steals, providing steady playmaking and defensive impact.
The Lady Royals have continued their remarkable run of success, capturing 10 consecutive Landmark Conference titles, including three under the leadership of O'Brien. Scranton enters the new season with their sights set on pursuing the program's 14th overall Landmark championship (2007, 2008, 2013, 2015–24).
O'Brien is assisted by Hannah Angelini, Tom Kosin, and Erica Haefele, who have been instrumental in the team's continued excellence on both ends of the court.
2025-26 Landmark Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
- Scranton – 81 points (9 first-place votes)
- Catholic – 73 points (1 first-place vote)
- Susquehanna – 61 points
- Elizabethtown – 59 points
- Drew – 51 points
- Moravian – 36 points
- Juniata – 33 points
- Goucher – 23 points
- Lycoming – 21 points
- Wilkes – 12 points
The Lady Royals open the 2025-26 season tonight at 6:00 p.m. at SUNY Geneseo.
