California and West Chester Top PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
West Preview
East Preview
Lock Haven, Pa. - The defending NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Champions and PSAC Champions from California have been picked to win the PSAC West, while the team the Vulcans defeated the PSAC Championship Game, West Chester, is the favorite in the east.
The Golden Rams come into 2015 with all five starters from last year’s team returning. Jasmen Clark, Dallas Ely, Anna Kuntz, Brittany Sicinski, and Chikisha Steele-Hook are all seniors and will again be the focal point for WCU. Both Ely and Sicinski were named First Team All-PSAC last season, while also being named to the preseason all-conference team this year. They are both on pace to break the school record for career points.
Shippensburg comes in second in the poll, also returning several key players to the fold. Junior Morgan Griffith was one of only two players in the PSAC to average a double-double last season and was named First Team All-PSAC. 2014-15 Second Team All-PSAC members Lauren Gold and Stephanie Knauer also return for the Raiders.
The PSAC East Champions from last year, Bloomsburg, rank third. The Huskies will have a new look in 2015-16, but have been a perennial power, amassing a record of 124-28 since 2010-11. Adreana Sadowski was an all-conference performer last year, averaging 10.9 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Millersville is fourth in the poll and will be greatly helped by the return of Celeste Robinson, a 2013-14 All-PSAC East Second Team selection who received a medical redshirt in 2014-15.
The Marauders are followed by No. 5 Lock Haven, No. 6 Kutztown, and No. 7 East Stroudsburg. Mansfield and Cheyney close out the poll.
California is the preseason favorite in the PSAC West after closing 2014-15 on a 10-game winning streak and hoisting the national championship trophy. The Vulcans will be led by junior guard Miki Glenn, who was the MVP of the PSAC Tournament and the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.
Tied for second in the poll is Edinboro and Gannon. Stan Swank leads the Fighting Scots for the 29th season and is the all-time winningest coach in the PSAC, recording 513 wins. Swank returns three starters in Aignee’ Freeland, a two-time all-conference selection, Lauren Hippo, and Nicole Johnson.
Gannon returns eight letter winners from last season, but only one starter: Amanda Berchtold. Head coach Jim Brunelli has a record 49-12 in his first two seasons at the helm at Gannon.
Last year’s PSAC West Champions from IUP come in at fourth in the preseason poll. The Crimson Hawks went 25-4 last season, but return only Leslie Stapleton from last year’s starting lineup.
Slippery Rock, Seton Hill, and Pitt-Johnstown follow IUP in the polls, with Mercyhurst and Clarion closing out the rankings.
The Preseason All-PSAC West Team is comprised of players from six different teams, including No. 7 Pitt-Johnstown (Jasmine Harper), No. 8 Mercyhurst (Natalie Piaggesi), and No. 9 Clarion (Tania Holmes).
Women's Basketball Media Guide
PSAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL EAST PRESEASON POLL
1. West Chester
2. Shippensburg
3. Bloomsburg
4. Millersville
5. Lock Haven
6. Kutztown
7. East Stroudsburg
8. Mansfield
9. Cheyney
PSAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL EAST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Dallas Ely (West Chester)
Morgan Griffith (Shippensburg)
Kyra Hines-Allen (Cheyney)
Stephanie Knauer (Shippensburg)
Adreana Sadowski (Bloomsburg)
Brittany Sicinski (West Chester)
PSAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. California
T-2. Edinboro
T-2. Gannon
4. IUP
5. Slippery Rock
6. Seton Hill
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Mercyhurst
9. Clarion
PSAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Aignee' Freeland (Edinboro)
Miki Glenn (California)
Jasmine Harper (Pitt-Johnstown)
Tania Holmes (Clarion)
Natalie Piaggesi (Mercyhurst)
Leslie Stapleton (IUP)