ALBANY, Ga. — Albany State University women's basketball players Sariah Johnson and Paris Triplett have been named to the 2026-27 Preseason All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team, while the Golden Rams were picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll.
The preseason recognition comes after both Johnson and Triplett played significant roles for Albany State during the 2025-26 campaign.
Johnson returns after a strong season in which she averaged 11.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. She finished third in the SIAC in rebounding, totaling 248 boards in 28 games, including 120 on the offensive glass. Johnson also recorded 22 blocked shots during the season.
Triplett established herself as one of the conference's top interior defenders last season. She led the SIAC with 51 blocked shots, averaging 2.0 per game, while also pulling down 7.2 rebounds per contest. Her 188 total rebounds ranked among the conference leaders.
The duo also played an important role in Albany State's postseason run. In the Golden Rams' 58-56 victory over Kentucky State in the 2026 SIAC Tournament, Johnson and Triplett each grabbed eight rebounds. Triplett added seven points, four steals and two blocks as Albany State advanced.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Albany State was selected to finish sixth in the SIAC preseason poll. The Golden Rams will look to build around their returning experience under head coach Todd Triplett while incorporating several newcomers into the rotation.
Albany State's 2026-27 schedule features a challenging mix of non-conference and SIAC competition. The Golden Rams will face opponents including North Georgia and Florida A&M before moving deeper into conference play. The regular season will lead into the SIAC Basketball Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 27 through March 6.
With Johnson and Triplett returning as preseason all-conference selections, the Golden Rams will look to use their experience on both ends of the floor as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 12 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
