Reigning PBC Tournament Champions Augusta have been tabbed as the preseason favorite to claim the 2026-27 Peach Belt Conference women’s basketball title by the league’s coaches. The Jaguars received seven first-place votes, while Columbus State received two, and North Georgia and USC Beaufort each received one.

Augusta claimed their first PBC Tournament title in 33 years last season, defeating No. 1 seed Columbus State in the semifinals before knocking off No. 7 seed GCSU in the championship game. The Jaguars finished the season at the NCAA Southeast Regionals with a 21-10 overall record and a 13-7 mark in PBC play. Junior standout Quinasia Abercrombie highlights Augusta’s returning class after earning PBC Tournament MVP honors and First Team All-Conference recognition last season.

North Georgia finished tied for third with Augusta in the PBC standings last season. The Nighthawks advanced to the PBC Tournament semifinals before seeing their season come to an end, finishing with a 19-13 overall record and a 13-7 mark in conference play. UNG returns four of their top five scorers from last season, including All-Conference selections Averie Jones and Zaynah Preston.

Reigning PBC Regular Season champion Columbus State have been selected to finish third in the 2026-27 preseason poll. The Cougars finished last season with a 25-5 overall record and an 18-2 mark in PBC play before their season ended in the NCAA Southeast Region. CSU return three of their top five scorers from last season in Alana Hankerson, Samara Saunders and Nadea Smith. 

USC Beaufort enters the 2026-27 season following the best season in program history. The Sand Sharks finished second in the PBC standings last season with a 15-5 conference record and a 19-11 overall mark. Taniyah Bowman and Janiyah Heyward lead the returning class for USCB after both earned All-Conference honors last season.

The 2026-27 PBC women’s basketball season gets underway in November, with all 11 conference teams set to compete for the regular-season and tournament championships. With a mix of returning All-Conference talent, experienced veterans and newcomers across the league, the season is set for another competitive campaign. The 2026 PBC Basketball Tip-Off is set for tomorrow, Sept. 23, at GCSU Centennial Center in Milledgeville, Ga., where players and coaches from all 11 teams will participate in interviews streamed live on the PBC Network.

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Augusta (7)	95
2.	North Georgia (1)	86
3.	Columbus State (2)	83
4.	USC Beaufort (1)	81
5.	Middle Georgia	65
6.	GCSU	42
7.	Clayton State	36
8.	Flagler	35
9.	Georgia Southwestern	31
10.	Lander	29
11.	USCA	22

2026-27 Preseason All-Conference Team

Quinasia Abercrombie, Augusta

Junior, Guard/Forward

• Played and started in 20 games, averaging 33.0 minutes

• Averaged 18.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists

• Led the team in scoring and rebounding, second in steals and assists

• PBC First Team All-Conference

• PBC Tournament MVP

• D2CCA All-Region Second Team

Mauryah Jones, Middle Georgia

Junior, Guard

• Played in 28 games and started four, averaging 21.8 minutes

• Averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.96 assists and 1.9 steals 

• Led the team in scoring, assists and steals

• PBC Third Team All-Conference

Averie Jones, North Georgia

Junior, Guard

• Played and started in 31 games, averaging 32.9 minutes

• Averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists

• Led the team in scoring and assists, second in steals

• PBC First Team All-Conference

• D2CCA All-Region Second Team

Zaynah Preston, North Georgia

Junior, Point Guard

• Played and started in 26 games, averaging 28.5 minutes

• Averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals

• Ranked second on the team in scoring and steals

• PBC Third Team All-Conference

Taniyah Bowman, USC Beaufort

Senior, Point Guard

• Played and started in 28 games, averaging 29.1 minutes

• Averaged 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals

• Led the team in assists, second in scoring and third in steals

• PBC First Team All-Conference

• PBC Elite 18 Award

Janiyah Heyward, USC Beaufort

Senior, Forward

• Started 26 of 28 games, averaging 30.0 minutes

• Averaged 13.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals

• Led the team in rebounding and steals, second in assists, third in scoring and blocks

• PBC Third Team All-Conference