BALTIMORE, Md. – Coming off a strong 2025–26 campaign that saw the Bowie State women's basketball team capture the CIAA Northern Division championship, the Bulldogs have been selected to finish third in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 2026–27 Women's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish, the conference announced Tuesday during CIAA Basketball Media Day in Baltimore, Md.

In addition to the preseason poll, Bowie State senior Malaka Cobb was selected to the 2026–27 Preseason All-CIAA Team, representing the Bulldogs among the conference's top returning student-athletes.

Cobb returns for another season in a Bowie State uniform after playing a key role in the Bulldogs' success during the 2025–26 campaign. The Bowie, Md., native provided consistent offensive production and emerged as one of BSU's top scoring threats throughout the season. Cobb recorded several standout performances, including a 27-point effort against Fayetteville State and a 19-point performance in Bowie State's victory over Virginia State.

The Bulldogs enter the 2026–27 season looking to build on a successful 2025–26 campaign in which Bowie State claimed the CIAA Northern Division championship. BSU finished the regular season atop the Northern Division after closing the year with a strong conference run, including a decisive 90–44 victory over Lincoln (Pa.) to secure the division title.

Bowie State's defensive identity played a major role in its success last season. The Bulldogs consistently pressured opposing offenses, forced turnovers and limited scoring opportunities while featuring a balanced offensive attack led by Cobb and fellow standout Mia Smith. BSU entered the final stretch of the regular season allowing just 57.0 points per game while averaging 12.0 steals and 5.7 blocks per contest.

With a strong foundation returning and expectations high entering the new season, the Bulldogs were picked third in the CIAA preseason poll, behind defending champion Winston-Salem State University and Fayetteville State University. Virginia State University and Claflin University round out the conference's preseason top five.

Head coach Shadae Swan and the Bulldogs will look to continue building on the program's recent success as Bowie State prepares for another competitive CIAA campaign. Swan and student-athlete Malaka Cobb represented Bowie State at the 2026 CIAA Basketball Media Day in Baltimore.

The 2026–27 season will culminate with the 52nd CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament, scheduled for February 23–27, 2027, at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

2026–27 CIAA Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Winston-Salem State University
2. Fayetteville State University
3. Bowie State University
4. Virginia State University
5. Claflin University
6. Virginia Union University
7. Livingstone College
8. Johnson C. Smith University
9. Bluefield State University
10. Shaw University
11. Elizabeth City State University
12. Lincoln University (Pa.)

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