NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 8, 2025)--Senior guard Ja'la Bannerman was named to the Preseason All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) first team, while teammates Jael Butler and Gabrielle Johnson were named to the third team as announced by the conference office today. Meanwhile, the Morgan State women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the MEAC Preseason poll.
 
The preseason poll and preseason teams were released during Wednesday's MEAC Basketball Media Day, which was broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
All awards were voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
North Carolina Central graduate forward Morgan Callahan was named the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. Howard was selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 MEAC women's basketball title.

"Being selected to the first team makes me proud. Just from everything I've been through this year and coming in with a new coach, it just lets me know that my job is not done," said Bannerman. "It's not finished, and I have a lot more work to do."
 
Bannerman started 16 of 24 games a year ago, averaging 8.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. The Baltimore native tallied 204 points, 31 rebounds, 25 steals, 24 assists and three blocks. She ranked 14^th in the MEAC in 3-pt FG% (.298), 18^th in 3-pt FGs per game (1.0) and 20^th in scoring. Bannerman led the team in 3-pointers made (25) and reached double figures in scoring 10 times, including a season-high 21 points in a win against Shepherd.
 
A native of Gilroy, Calif., Butler averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season. She started 18 of 27 games played and finished third on the team in blocks with 20. Butler finished with 211 points, 118 rebounds, 14 steals, and six assists. She ranked fifth in the MEAC in FG % (.439), eighth in blocked shots, 14^th in rebounding, and 22^nd in scoring.
 
Johnson ranked 12^th in the MEAC in assists (2.1) and 21^st in scoring (8.0) last season as a junior. A native of Baltimore, Johnson averaged 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. She started in 13 of 25 games and finished with 201 points, 57 rebounds, 53 assists, 15 steals, and six blocks.
 
Morgan State secured 62 total points in the voting. Howard claimed 10 first-place votes and 118 points. Defending MEAC regular season and tournament champion Norfolk State, which had four first-place votes and 107 points, was second, followed by Maryland Eastern Shore (93 points) and North Carolina Central (one first-place vote and 68 points). Coppin State was picked sixth with 60 points, while Delaware State (41) and South Carolina State (one first-place vote and 27 points) rounded out the league's predicted order of finish.
 
The Lady Bears begin the 2025-26 campaign on the road at Virginia on Tuesday, Nov. 4, before returning home to host Stetson in the home opener on Sunday, Nov. 9.
 
The 2026 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 11-14, 2026, at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
 
For more information about the MEAC and its sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.
 
The MEAC Media Relations Office contributed to this release.
 
 
2025-26 Women's Basketball MEAC Preseason All-Conference
 
Predicted Order of Finish
School (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Howard (10), 118
2. Norfolk State (4), 107
3. Maryland Eastern Shore, 93
4. North Carolina Central (1), 68
5. Morgan State, 62
6. Coppin State, 60
7. Delaware State, 41
8. South Carolina State (1), 27
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Morgan Callahan, North Carolina Central
 
First Team 
Ja'la Bannerman, Morgan State
Morgan Callahan, North Carolina Central
Nile Miller, Howard
Anjanae Robinson, Norfolk State
Zennia Thomas, Howard
 
Second Team 
Brianna Barnes, Maryland Eastern Shore
Da'Brya Clark, Norfolk State
Jasha Clinton, Norfolk State
Shakria Foster, Maryland Eastern Shore
Ericka Huggins, Delaware State
Ashanti Lynch, Maryland Eastern Shore
 
Third Team 
Jael Butler, Morgan State
Aniya Finger, North Carolina Central
Aysia Hinton, North Carolina Central
Gabrielle Johnson, Morgan State
Jazmine Spencer, Norfolk State
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.