IUP, Kutztown Top 2019-20 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Polls
2019-20 PSAC Women's Basketball Preseason Information Packet
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Kutztown and IUP have been tabbed the favorites in the Eastern and Western Division, respectively, in the 2019-20 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.
Shepherd University joined the PSAC in July of 2019 and will be a participant in the Eastern Division.
EASTERN DIVISION
Kutztown claimed seven of the nine possible first-place votes after advancing to its first-ever PSAC Championship game. The Golden Bears return a trio of starters from a 19-12 campaign last season. Junior Rylee Derr connected on a school record 89 three pointers while averaging 17 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Coach Janet Malouf has accumulated 373 career wins, which is fourth-most in PSAC history. Seniors Karen Lapkiewicz and Brianna Tarabocchia combined to average nearly 20 points and nine rebounds per game.
The Bloomsburg Huskies swiped a pair of first-place votes and were tabbed second. Coach Alison Tagliaferri’s squad produced a flawless 14-0 home record while boasting the third-toughest defense in the conference after allowing 61 points per contest. Tagliaferri was named the East Coach of the Year and is the first PSAC women’s coach to win a Coach of the Year and Athlete of the Year (Mansfield, 2006) honor. Junior guard Emma Saxton will pace the offense along with senior Taylor Montana. Saxton averaged 12.5 points per game while Montana snagged a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game. The Huskies return Meghan Corridoni, who missed all of last season due to injury. She started 27 games two years ago.
Shippensburg was picked third and return junior Ariel Jones. Jones was named East Freshman of the Year two years ago before earning Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Third-Team accolades last year. Jones posted double digits in all 27 contests she participated in while averaging 25.6 points per game. Coach Kristy Trn returns 2018-19 East Freshman of the Year Aunbrielle Green. She was the ninth Raider to claim the award after averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
West Chester was picked to tie for fourth following a 16-14 campaign. Coach Keira Wooden is six wins shy of 100 for her career. Wooden returns a pair of seniors in Gabrielle Troisi and Katherine Fisher. The duo combined for nearly 18 points and 14 rebounds per game.
Millersville was slated to tie for fourth and return East Athlete of the Year, Lauren Lister. Lister led the Marauders in points (604), field goals made (231), free throws made (138) and steals (56). Coach Mary Fleig’s team was third in the PSAC in field-goal percentage at a 42.9% clip.
East Stroudsburg claimed sixth in the poll and will be under the direction of Stephanie Del Preore. She spent the previous four seasons at LIU Brooklyn and enters her tenure with the Warriors holding a 75-129 career record. The Warriors return a pair of all-conference representatives in Tiffany Lapotsky and Jordan Hertz. Hertz was named East Defensive Athlete of the Year.
Lock Haven was tabbed seventh after pacing the league in rebounding margin (+5.4). Coach Jennifer Smith return’s senior Rileigh Devine and junior Ahnera Parker. Devine set a school record with 70 made 3’s while Parker was named to an all-conference team after posting 13.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Shepherd and Mansfield rounded out the poll, respectively.
Shepherd returns second-team All-MEC member Sydney Clayton. Clayton averaged 17.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Mansfield will rely on Sydney Reed who started all 26 games last season.
WESTERN DIVISION
IUP earned five first-place votes after advancing to the NCAA DII Final Four last season. The Crimsons Hawks posted a 30-4 record while winning their sixth PSAC title after defeating Kutztown, 72-57. IUP has been one of the most successful teams in DII over the last two seasons with 60 victories. The Crimson Hawks paced the PSAC in most defensive categories after allowing 54.9 points per game. IUP returns a pair of seniors in Lexi Griggs and Natalie Myers. Griggs has played in 91 games over the last three seasons.
Cal U was picked second and claimed a pair of first-place votes. Coach Jess Strom is nine wins shy of 200 for career. The Vulcans posted a 26-6 mark last season and made their fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA DII Championship. Cal U led the PSAC with 13.4 steals per contest. Graduate transfer Monica Burns joins the program after sitting out last season. She has scored over 1,000 points in her career and led DII in free-throw percentage (.946) during the 2016-17 campaign.
Edinboro was slated third and received a first-place vote. The Fighting Scots led the PSAC in points per game (77.8) and free-throw percentage (78.2) while producing a 20-win season. Coach Callie Wheeler enters her second season at the helm and will lean on senior guard Michaela Barnes. Barnes was a first-team all-conference representative in 2018-19 after averaging 21.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Pitt-Johnstown claimed fourth and returns a stout pair of seniors in Alli McGrath and Gabrielle Smith. The duo combined for nearly 38 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Seton Hill was tabbed fifth and received a first-place vote. Coach Mark Katarski returns for his seventh season at the helm for Seton Hill and six wins shy of 100 for his tenure with the Griffins. Seton Hill returns five of its six top scorers, including Cheyenne Trest. Trest averaged 12.0 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Gannon was picked sixth and welcomes back Cleve Wright. Wright is in his second stint with the Lady Knights and has a 233-100 record in 11 previous seasons at Gannon. Senior Chelsea Rourke will pace the offense after posting 12.6 points last season.
Slippery Rock was voted seventh and return senior Brooke Hinderliter. She scored 18.3 points per game. The Rock suffered six losses by eight points or less.
Mercyhurst and Clarion rounded out the poll, respectively.
Mercyhurst will be under the direction Brooklyn Kohlheim after she completed a stint at Lake Erie College. Clarion returns a trio of juniors, including Yndiah Bobo. Bobo averaged 10.7 points last season.
The 2019-20 regular season commences Friday, November 8th. PSAC play begins Saturday, November 23.
PSAC Women’s Basketball East Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1) Kutztown (7)
2) Bloomsburg (2)
3) Shippensburg
T4) West Chester
T4) Millersville
6) East Stroudsburg
7) Lock Haven
8) Shepherd
9) Mansfield
PSAC Women’s Basketball West Preseason Poll
1) IUP (5)
2) Cal U (2)
3) Edinboro (1)
4) Pitt-Johnstown
5) Seton Hill (1)
6) Gannon
7) Slippery Rock
8) Mercyhurst
9) Clarion