Women's Basketball picked ninth in 2008-09 preseason poll
10/28/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2008
www.siusalukis.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll released Tuesday. Polling is done by league coaches, media and sports information directors. The Salukis return two starters and add three freshmen and five transfers for the 2008-09 season after finishing in ninth place a year ago.
Despite returning just four letterwinners, SIU returns all-defensive team member Erica Smith and Jasmine Gibson, one of the top scorers in the league before injury forced her to miss nine games at the end of last season.
For the first time in 24 years (1984-85), Illinois State has been tabbed as the preseason favorite. The Redbirds, which won the 2008 MVC Tournament and shared the regular-season title, received all 40 first-place votes for 400 points, out-distancing Creighton (310). The Valley's four post-season teams last season hold the top four spots in this year's poll as Creighton (WNIT), Drake (WNIT) and Evansville (WNIT) follow Illinois State (NCAA) atop the poll in a tightly-packed group behind the preseason favorite.
Illinois State is led by two-time Jackie Stiles/MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone, leads the preseason all-MVC team, which includes Illinois State teammate Maggie Krick, Maggie Dwyer of Missouri State, Jacqui Kalin of UNI and Shannon Novosel of Evansville.
Drake is picked third in this year's poll with 297 points, and Evansville, under the direction of new head coach Misty Murphy, is selected fourth in the poll for the third-straight year with 251 points.
Northern Iowa Panthers that have been tabbed in the fifth position with 245 points, while Missouri State, with 215 points in the poll is picked sixth.
Indiana State return three starters for head coach Jim Wiedie after tying for sixth in last year's Valley race. The Sycamores check in with 166 points for seventh.
Six of the top seven scorers return for Paula Buscher and the Bradley Braves, the eighth pick in this year's poll with 161 points. Southern Illinois, with 108 points, and Wichita State, 47, round out the poll.
2008-09 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Illinois State (40) 400
2. Creighton 310
3. Drake 297
4. Evansville 251
5. Northern Iowa 245
6. Missouri State 215
7. Indiana State 166
8. Bradley 161
9. Southern Illinois 108
10. Wichita State 47
2008-09 Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Player, School, Notes
Kristi Cirone, Illinois State, Two-time MVC Player of the Year
Maggie Dwyer, Missouri State, 2007-08 Newcomer of the Year
Jacqui Kalin, Northern Iowa, 2007-08 Freshman of the Year
Maggie Krick, Illinois State, 2007-08 HM All-MVC
Shannon Novosel, Evansville, 2007-08 2nd-team All-MVC