DALLAS – Deborah Ogayemi was named to the preseason all-CUSA team and the Sam Houston women's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the league in the annual preseason poll which was released by league officials on Thursday. 

Ogayemi was the lone Bearkat to be named to the preseason team, an 11-member squad which included preseason player of the year Paris Bradley from Louisiana Tech, the team picked to take the league crown. 

A transfer from UTRGV prior to the 2024-25 season, Ogayemi enters her second season on head coach Ravon Justice's squad after a stellar first season in Huntsville. This was the first time a Bearkat won a preseason all-conference honor since joining the CUSA.  

Ogayemi was named second-team all-Conference USA after leading the team in scoring 12.5 points per game in conference play. She recorded 17 double-digit scoring performances last season and ranked fifth in steals per game (2.39) and rebounds (7.3) among the conference.  

Sam Houston opens the season with a home opener on Nov. 3 against Southern Christian at Johnson Coliseum.