Marist Unanimous in Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
MAAC Sports
Springfield, Mass. - Marist College, the 2011 MAAC Basketball Champion, is again the preseason favorite to claim the title in 2012, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Marist was the unanimous choice, with all 10 of the first-place votes, followed by Loyola University Maryland, finishing second with 84 points. Fairfield University came in third with 78 points. Manhattan followed in fourth place with 64 points, while Iona College took fifth with 59 points. Canisius College received 55 points to finish sixth, trailed by Siena College (46 points) in seventh, Saint Peter's College (23) and Rider University (23) tied for eighth and Niagara University (18) was 10th to round out the poll.
Last season, the Red Foxes won their sixth consecutive MAAC Championship and seventh in the past eight seasons. Marist had a strong showing in the 2011 NCAA Championship as well, besting a strong Iowa State squad before losing a close contest to second-seeded Duke in the second round. Returning starters from last season are preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Corielle Yarde and Third Team selection Brandy Gang. Yarde was 10th in the league in scoring and third in field goal percentage, averaging 11.8 points per game and shooting 43.9 percent from the field. Gang averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during her junior campaign for the Red Foxes. 2011 MAAC Coach of the Year Brian Giorgis will also look to sophomore Leanne Ockenden, senior Kristine Best and sophomore Emma O'Connor to help lead Marist to its seventh consecutive title and continue their dominance in the MAAC .
Loyola returns three starters and two letter winners that helped carry them to the MAAC Championship and their first ever postseason victory in the WNIT. The Greyhounds will be led by All-MAAC first team selections Miriam McKenzie and Katie Sheahin. McKenzie finished second in the MAAC in scoring and fifth in rebounding, averaging 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds a contest during her junior season. The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Sheahin snatched up 3.5 steals and pulled down 6.0 boards per game. Seventh-year head coach Joe Logan will also call upon the services of senior Candice Walker, junior Alyssa Sutherland, and sophomore Nneka Offodile as the Greyhounds aim for their first MAAC title since 1995.
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2011-2012 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
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1.
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Marist (10)
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100
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2.
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Loyola
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84
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3.
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Fairfield
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78
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4.
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Manhattan
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64
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5.
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Iona
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59
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6.
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Canisius
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55
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7.
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Siena
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46
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T8.
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Rider
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23
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Saint Peter's
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23
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10.
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Niagara
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18
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