Metro Conference

Marist Picked to Win 2010-11 Women's Basketball Title

10/26/2010 3:00:00 PM

MAAC Sports

EDISON, N.J. – Marist College, which won its fifth straight MAAC Championship and advanced to its sixth NCAA Tournament in seven years last season, is the league’s choice to claim the 2010-11 conference title, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Marist received all ten first place votes for 100 points in the poll. Iona College finished as a unanimous second place selection with 90 points. Loyola University was chosen third with 70 points, while Fairfield University and Manhattan College tied for fourth with 64 points. Niagara University was picked sixth with 51 points, followed by Canisius College (44), Siena College (34), Saint Peter's College (20), and Rider University (13).

Marist will have a new look this season following the departure of three-time MAAC Player of the Year Rachele Fitz. Leading the way for the Red Foxes will be guards Erica Allenspach and Corielle Yarde. Allenspach, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, averaged 12.9 points per game a year ago and was second in the MAAC with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Yarde poured in 13.7 points per game and grabbed 6.1 boards per contest. Also returning in the backcourt is junior Kristine Best, who averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 assists last season. The frontcourt features four returning players, including starting sophomore forward Kate Oliver, senior center Maria Laterza, and junior forwards Brandy Gang and Emily Stallings. Oliver averaged almost five points and three rebounds per game in 2009-10.  

Iona returns four players who started at least 19 games last season - senior point guard Suzi Fregosi, senior forward Anda Ivkovic, junior forward Kristina Ford, and sophomore guard Diana Hubbard. Fregosi led the league last year with a 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio and averaged 4.8 assists per game, the most of all returning players. Ivkovic will be one of the Gaels' primary offensive weapons. She was averaging 8.8 points per game last season before a knee injury ended her junior year. In 2008-09, she averaged 13.2 points per contest. Ford, a former MAAC Rookie of the Year and the team's top returning scorer, is a versatile player who can score, rebound, and run the floor. Hubbard averaged 7.0 points per game during her successfull freshman campaign  that saw her voted to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Iona's biggest need will be replacing the combined 15.5 rebounds per game from Anna McLean and Thazina Cook, who both graduated. 6-3 junior center Milica Paligoric, who averaged 2.7 rebounds per game in limited minutes, is a strong candidate to fill that role.  

2010-11 Preseason Poll