The 2025-26 season for the Santa Fe College Women's Basketball team was the start of a new era for the well-storied athletic program. David Lowery was named head coach in July and started preparing quickly for the 2025-26 season. Navigating a season with highs and lows, the Saints finished with a 7-19 record during the season. However, the team showed plenty of bright spots and promise heading into the future.

Bringing experience from the NCAA DI level, 20+ years of assistant coaching, a year as a head coach, and multiple years coordinating recruiting, Lowery's record made him the right fit for Santa Fe. Coach Lowery's first win at Santa Fe came in a 105-28 blowout of Edward Waters JV. The game would see five Saints score at least twelve points, laying the groundwork for who would be some of the team's most impressive players both on the team and in the Citrus Conference.

One of the five players who scored double digits in that contest, and many more throughout the season, was freshman point guard Zion McRae. Earning a starting role right off the bat, McRae's efforts landed her starts in 25 of 26 games, averaging 13.0 points per game on 37.9% field-goal shooting, 38.5% three-point shooting, and 79.8% on free throws. As it stands, McRae currently holds a free-throw percentage record as Santa Fe's second-highest (min. 100 attempts), and her 13.0 points per game stands in Santa Fe's top-40 all-time. For her historical performances, McRae's efforts earned a spot on the Citrus Conference's First Team.

Joining Saints history alongside McRae would be two-year guard and forward Aniyah Anderson. Anderson's 24 starts saw her earn per-game totals of 10.8 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and 1.7 steals per game, proving her worth as a two-way presence. The back-to-back All-Citrus Conference Second Team player continued to impress and write her name all throughout Santa Fe's record books. With her longtime success at Santa Fe, Aniyah Anderson currently sits in Santa Fe's top-50 all-time in scoring, rebounding, blocks, and top-25 in steals. 

After limited action early on, freshman guard Lorianys Castanon-Cruz made a quick ascension as one of the Saints' top shooters and scorers. After two games with limited action, Castanon-Cruz earned her starting role in back-to-back games with 22 and 21 points in November. The twenty-plus outings would be two of five outings of such that she recorded during the season, and were also 2 of 17 outings in which she scored at least 10 points. She was also named Second Team All-Citrus Conference.

Joining McRae and Castanon-Cruz for another year of Saints Women's Basketball are Claudia Ordonez Cabello and Blanca Garcia. Cabello, a full-time starter at point guard, posted impressive numbers, averaging 10 points per game, 35.0% 3-point shooting, and 260 points. Meanwhile, Garcia played a key part-time role on both sides of the ball, scoring 94 points and 147 rebounds, as well as 28 steals on defense.

Throughout the year, the Saints showed promise with several key players and moments throughout the season. With a year of Santa Fe experience under Coach Lowery's belt, the team will regroup with a refreshed identity, new team leaders, and set their sights on competing in the Citrus Conference in 2026-27.

The Saints had four total players commit to four-year schools to continue their careers.

• Aniyah Anderson – Saint Leo University - Story

• Malanie Francis – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - Story

• Taylor Hackett  - Florida Memorial University - Story

• Isabella Spence  - Florida Memorial University - Story

Two Saints were recognized individually off the court for their academic efforts. Malanie Francis won the Sandy Miller Award as the top FCSAA Women's Basketball Student-Athlete, while Claudia Ordonez Cabello was recognized with Santa Fe's Dr. Portia Taylor Academic Award.