Women's Basketball picked 10th in MVC Preseason Poll
10/25/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 25, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS — The Southern Illinois women's basketball team was selected 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll as announced Tuesday at the league's annual media day.
The Salukis garnered 65 points in the poll, which is voted on by MVC coaches, sports information directors and media members.
"I'm never big on where you are picked preseason. I am big on where we are going to finish in March," said SIU head coach Missy Tiber. "I believe that we are better than 10th in this league. I think we are now talent-wise getting close to where we need to be in order to be competitive in this league night in and night out."
Missouri State was selected as the league's preseason favorite with 396 points and 36 first-place votes in the poll. Reigning Valley champion Northern Iowa was picked second in the poll with 322 points, and was the only other team to receive first-place votes (4).
Rounding out the top five were Wichita State (315 points), Crieghton (234) and Indiana State (234), while Illinois State was picked sixth (224 points), Drake was seventh (168 points), Bradley was eighth (162 points) and Evansville was ninth (68 points).
The Salukis will host Christian Brothers in exhibition play November 1 before opening the season November 11 at Austin Peay.
2011-12 Missouri Valley Conference
Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Missouri State (36), 396
2. Northern Iowa (4), 322
3. Wichita State, 315
4. Creighton, 246
5. Indiana State, 234
6. Illinois State, 224
7. Drake, 168
8. Bradley, 162
9. Evansville, 68
10. Southern Illinois, 65
Preseason All-Conference
Casey Garrison, Missouri State
Haleigh Lankster, Wichita State
Christiana Shorter, Missouri State
Shannon Thomas, Indiana State
Carli Tritz, Creighton