Temple University Athletics
Turner, Craig Named to American Preseason All-Conference Teams
10.9.26 | Women's Basketball
IRVING, Texas – Temple women's basketball's Kaylah Turner was named to the American Conference Preseason All-Conference First Team, while Saniyah Craig earned Preseason All-Conference Second Team honors, as announced by the conference on Friday. The Owls were also picked to finish fifth in the conference's preseason coaches poll.
Turner put together a standout 2025-26 campaign, earning American Conference All-Conference Second Team and Preseason All-Conference Honors. The Florida native played and started in all 32 games, leading the Owls and the American Conference in scoring with 16.4 points per game and 526 total points, ranking 89th and 96th nationally.
Turner led the conference with 188 made field goals, ranking 53rd nationally, while connecting on 83 three-pointers, the second-most in program history. She ranked third in the American in three-point percentage (40.9%), three-pointers made (83), and three-pointers per game (2.59), while fifth in three-point attempts (203). Turner also ranked second in the conference in minutes per game, averaging 33.57. She recorded 11 games with at least 20 points and set career highs with 36 points and eight three-pointers against Princeton.
Craig made an impact in her first season with the Owls, earning a spot on the 2025-26 American All-Newcomer Team. As a junior, she played and started in all 32 games for Temple, finishing seventh in the conference with 254 total rebounds and eighth in rebounds per game (7.9). She also ranked fifth in the American in free-throw attempts with 115.
In her junior year, Craig recorded five double-doubles during the season, including a season-high 22 points against South Florida and a season-high 15 boards. The Arizona native dished out a career-high five assists against Tulane, while logging a career-high four steals against Coppin State. Craig posted a seven-game stretch with at least 10 points and six rebounds in each contest, the longest such streak by an Owl since 2021-22.
Temple was picked to finish fifth among the 13 teams in the American Conference preseason poll. Reigning 2025-26 American regular-season champion Rice was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving 10 first-place votes. Temple is coming off a 15-17 season, including an 8-10 conference record, and finished seventh in the American last season.
Temple opens the 2026–27 season on the road Nov. 2 against George Mason in Fairfax, Va.
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
Note: First-place votes denoted in parenthesis
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
Stefanie Ingram, 5th, G, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Sr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Sr., F, UTSA
Mady Cartwright, Sr., G, Tulsa
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Daejah Richmond, Sr., G, Memphis
Tamya Smith, Jr., F, Memphis
Hailey Adams, R-Sr., G, Rice
Kanija Daniel, Sr., G, Tulane
Saniyah Craig, Sr., F, Temple
Turner put together a standout 2025-26 campaign, earning American Conference All-Conference Second Team and Preseason All-Conference Honors. The Florida native played and started in all 32 games, leading the Owls and the American Conference in scoring with 16.4 points per game and 526 total points, ranking 89th and 96th nationally.
Turner led the conference with 188 made field goals, ranking 53rd nationally, while connecting on 83 three-pointers, the second-most in program history. She ranked third in the American in three-point percentage (40.9%), three-pointers made (83), and three-pointers per game (2.59), while fifth in three-point attempts (203). Turner also ranked second in the conference in minutes per game, averaging 33.57. She recorded 11 games with at least 20 points and set career highs with 36 points and eight three-pointers against Princeton.
Craig made an impact in her first season with the Owls, earning a spot on the 2025-26 American All-Newcomer Team. As a junior, she played and started in all 32 games for Temple, finishing seventh in the conference with 254 total rebounds and eighth in rebounds per game (7.9). She also ranked fifth in the American in free-throw attempts with 115.
In her junior year, Craig recorded five double-doubles during the season, including a season-high 22 points against South Florida and a season-high 15 boards. The Arizona native dished out a career-high five assists against Tulane, while logging a career-high four steals against Coppin State. Craig posted a seven-game stretch with at least 10 points and six rebounds in each contest, the longest such streak by an Owl since 2021-22.
Temple was picked to finish fifth among the 13 teams in the American Conference preseason poll. Reigning 2025-26 American regular-season champion Rice was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving 10 first-place votes. Temple is coming off a 15-17 season, including an 8-10 conference record, and finished seventh in the American last season.
Temple opens the 2026–27 season on the road Nov. 2 against George Mason in Fairfax, Va.
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1 | Rice (10) | 142 |
| 2 | UTSA (2) | 125 |
| 3 | South Florida (1) | 121 |
| 4 | Tulsa | 117 |
| 5 | Temple | 96 |
| 6 | UNT | 87 |
| 7 | East Carolina | 82 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic | 60 |
| 9 | Memphis | 54 |
| 10 | Charlotte | 44 |
| 11 | Tulane | 41 |
| 12 | UAB | 26 |
| 13 | Wichita State | 19 |
Note: First-place votes denoted in parenthesis
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team
Victoria Flores, Sr., G, Rice
Stefanie Ingram, 5th, G, South Florida
Kaylah Turner, Sr., G, Temple
Idara Udo, Sr., F, UTSA
Mady Cartwright, Sr., G, Tulsa
2026-27 American Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Daejah Richmond, Sr., G, Memphis
Tamya Smith, Jr., F, Memphis
Hailey Adams, R-Sr., G, Rice
Kanija Daniel, Sr., G, Tulane
Saniyah Craig, Sr., F, Temple
Players Mentioned
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