GLVC Announces Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
INDIANAPOLIS – The Drury University, University of Indianapolis and Quincy University women’s basketball teams sit atop their respective divisions in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll as determined in a vote of the GLVC’s 15 head coaches. The GLVC, which has moved to a three-divisional format for the first time in league history in 2009-10, will begin conference competition on Dec. 3.
UIndy received 63 total points and 11 first-place votes to earn favorite status in the GLVC East Division. The Greyhounds were followed by defending GLVC Champion Northern Kentucky which received 55 total points and the remaining four first-place votes. Bellarmine (37 total points), Southern Indiana (29) and Kentucky Wesleyan (15) rounded out the voting in the division.
Quincy has been picked as the favorite to claim the GLVC North Division. The Lady Hawks, who boasted the best conference record a year ago (16-1), received 58 total points and eight first-place votes. Lewis followed closely behind in second with 52 total points in the poll and four first-place votes. UW-Parkside finished right behind Lewis in the voting with 49 total points and three first-place votes. Saint Joseph’s (27) and Illinois-Springfield (14) followed in the north.
Drury was a unanimous pick to finish first in the GLVC West Division. The Panthers received 66 total points and 14 first-place votes. Missouri S&T finished second in the voting with 52 total points and the final first-place vote. The Miners were followed by Missouri-St. Louis (36), Rockhurst (31) and Maryville (16).
UIndy, ranked fourth in the Women’s Division II Bulletin preseason poll, returns four starters from a team that advanced to the final game of the Midwest Regional. The Greyhounds posted a 24-10 overall record last season and finished tied for third in the GLVC East Division with an 11-7 conference mark.
Quincy captured the West Division title a year ago and only dropped one game in league play, finishing with a 16-1 record. The Lady Hawks hosted and advanced to the final game of the GLVC Championship and also earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Hawks were 27-5 overall in 2008-09.
Drury, named a team to watch in national publications in 2009-10, finished second behind Quincy in the GLVC West Division last season. The Panthers, who were 19-10 overall and 13-4 in the GLVC last season, return all five starters and eight letterwinners from last year’s club.
Each GLVC team will play the teams in its division twice and each team in the other two divisions once for an 18-game slate in 2009-10. The top three teams from each division and three wild cards will advance to the 2010 GLVC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The tournament will be held over two weekends with the four teams from quarterfinal action advancing to the semifinals and final to be held at the TRAC on the campus of Illinois-Springfield on March 6-7.
The complete 2009-10 GLVC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll follows:
East Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Indianapolis (11) 63
2. Northern Kentucky (4) 55
3. Bellarmine 37
4. Southern Indiana 29
5. Kentucky Wesleyan 15
North Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Quincy (8) 58
2. Lewis (4) 52
3. UW-Parkside (3) 49
4. Saint Joseph’s 27
5. Illinois-Springfield* 14
West Division
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
1. Drury (14) 66
2. Missouri S&T (1) 52
3. Missouri-St. Louis 36
4. Rockhurst 31
5. Maryville* 16
*Ineligible for GLVC Tournament