Kutztown, Edinboro Top 2018-19 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
2018-19 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Information Packet
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Kutztown and Edinboro have been tabbed the favorites in the Eastern and Western Division, respectively, in the 2018-19 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
Preseason polls were determined by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
PSAC Women's Basketball Preview Video
EASTERN DIVISION
KU claimed the top spot after earning five of the eight possible first-place votes. Coach Janet Malouf enters her 25th season at the helm of the Golden Bears. Malouf returns a quartet of starters, including sophomore Rylee Derr. Derr produced an impressive freshman campaign while averaging 13.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She paced the PSAC in three-pointers made per game with 2.9. The Golden Bears tallied 18 wins last season, marking the most since 2009-10.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors were tabbed second after receiving a pair of first-place votes. Coach Diane Decker enters her fifth season with ESU and looks to build off a 16-11 campaign. ESU returns four starters, including junior Tiffany Lapotsky. Lapotsky averaged 11.6 points per game. The Warriors have finished second the PSAC East in each of the last two seasons. Sophomore Marlene Bassett seeks to build off a notable freshman year after averaging 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds.
West Chester was selected third after leading the PSAC in scoring last year with 82.2 points per game. The Golden Rams will look to replace four of their five starters. Coach Kiera Wooden was tabbed East Coach of the Year after starting season 18-0. WCU was second-best in the league in shooting percentage (45.8). Junior Katherine Fisher is WCU’s lone returning starter. She averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 2017-18.
Bloomsburg claimed the final first-place vote while being selected fourth. The Huskies return all five starters, including a pair of second-team all-conference representatives. Senior Alyssa Mack paced the team in scoring (10.6) while dishing out a team-high 59 assists. Junior Taylor Montana earned all-conference accolades after leading the team in rebound with 6.1 per game.
Millersville was picked fifth and returns a trio of starters. Sophomore Lauren Lister, who broke the Marauders freshman scoring record, averaged 12.6 points per game. Coach Mary Fleig has amassed over 600 career wins while leading the Marauders to the PSAC Championship game last season.
Shippensburg claimed sixth and return East Freshman of the Year Ariel Jones. Jones finished eighth in NCAA DII with 21.8 points per game. The Raiders will rely on sophomore Kryshell Gordy following a 2017-18 season with 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Lock Haven and Mansfield were selected seventh and eighth, respectively.
LHU returns three starters and posted the second-best average in rebounds at 41.7. Mansfield returns four starters and seeks a return to the postseason for the second consecutive season.
WESTERN DIVISION
EU claimed five of the nine possible first-place votes after winning its fifth PSAC Championship last season. The Fighting Scots return four starters, including West Athlete and Defensive Athlete of the Year Ciara Rosten. Rosten became the first athlete to win both major awards in the same season. She averaged 15.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Joining Rosten in the starting five is graduate student Jontay Walton, senior Michelle Jahn and junior Michaela Barnes. Walton paced the team in scoring (16.5), assists (4.3) and steals (73). EU paced the PSAC in three-point percentage, rebounding margin and rebounds. The Fighting Scots will be under the direction of first-year coach Callie Wheeler. Wheeler replaces Stan Swank. Swank retired after 31 seasons at EU and is the all-time winningest coach in PSAC basketball history.
IUP swiped the remaining four first-place votes while being tabbed second. The Crimson Hawks advanced to the NCAA DII Semifinals before falling to Ashland. IUP returns a trio of starters, all which are seniors. Carolyn Appleby averaged 15.4 points per game while amassing over 100 assists last season. IUP led the PSAC in all major defensive statistics while pacing the league in shooting percentage on the offensive side. Lauren Wolosik seeks to become the first IUP player with 1000 points and 400 assists in a career.
California was slated third and returns three starters. The Vulcans have made the NCAA Tournament 15 times in the last 17 years. Cal paced the PSAC in steals per game (13.4) and return senior Seairra Barrett, who missed last season due to injury. Barrett averaged 18.6 points and 6.8 rebounds during the 2016-17 campaign. Cal’s defense held opponents to 59.3 points per game, which marked second best in the PSAC.
Slippery Rock was tabbed fourth and returns all five starters. The Rock will be paced by senior Ciara Patterson and junior Brooke Hinderliter. Patterson averaged 15.8 points while Hinderliter accumulated 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Gannon was picked fifth and returns a trio of starters. The Lady Knights paced the PSAC in free-throw percentage (79.0) and will lean on senior Nicole LaCava. LaCava averaged 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Seton Hill was selected sixth and return West Freshman of the Year Cheyenne Trest. Trest pestered defenses after averaging 14 points per game and accumulated 88 assists on the season.
Mercyhurst claimed the seventh slot and returns all five starters. The Lakers boast 13 guards and ranked third in the PSAC in three-point percentage (34.6).
Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion rounded out the poll, respectively.
The 2018-19 regular season commences Friday, November 9th. PSAC play begins Saturday, December 1.
PSAC Women’s Basketball East Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1) Kutztown (5)
2) East Stroudsburg (2)
3) West Chester
4) Bloomsburg (1)
5) Millersville
6) Shippensburg
7) Lock Haven
8) Mansfield
PSAC Women’s Basketball West Preseason Poll
1) Edinboro (5)
2) IUP (4)
3) California
4) Slippery Rock
5) Gannon
6) Seton Hill
7) Mercyhurst
8) Pitt-Johnstown
9) Clarion