Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball picked 4th in MVC Preseason Poll
10/27/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
By Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference's annual preseason poll, the conference office announced Tuesday prior to the league's annual tip-off event.
A year removed from the largest single-season turnaround in the program's history, third-year head coach Cindy Stein returns all five starters, including preseason All-MVC selection Dyana Pierre. In all, the Salukis return nine letterwinners who accounted for 92% of its scoring and 93% of its rebounding from last season's 17-13 squad.
"We are thrilled that people believe we will do better this year but our main focus will be on winning the Valley Championship," said Stein. "We know how tough that will be since so many great players return but we are confident in our work ethic and toughness and we are excited to see where it all shakes out in the end in Moline, Ill. at the MVC tourney."
The Missouri State Lady Bears, who received 22 out of 40 first-place votes and 373 total points, have been tabbed as the preseason favorite in the MVC's women's basketball race in the annual survey of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media members. Drake is second with 15 first-place votes and 347 points. Drake's in-state rival the Northern Iowa Panthers garnered 320 points for third place in front of the Salukis, who tallied 297 points. SIU was one of five schools to earn at least one first-place vote, the first time the Salukis have garnered a first-place vote since the 2007-08 season.
In addition to the rankings, The Valley also announced its annual preseason all-conference team, which Pierre was selected to. Pierre averaged a double-double with 14.6 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game last season on her way to being named to both the All-MVC First-Team and All-Defensive team. Sara Dickey of Evansville, Taylor Manuel of Loyola, Lizzy Wendell of Drake and Kenzie Williams of Missouri State round out the preseason all-conference squad. Wendell was chosen as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year.
Saluki fans will have the opportunity to check out the 2015-16 SIU squad when it hosts the first of two exhibition contests this Friday, Oct. 30 against Maryville at 6 p.m. The Salukis will then host Kentucky Wesleyan for an exhibition contest on Nov. 7 before opening the regular season at DePaul as part of the 2015 Preseason WNIT on Nov. 13.
To buy tickets for this season call 877-SALUKIS or visit here.
2015-16 MVC Preseason Poll Rankings, Points
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Missouri State (22 first-place votes), 373
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Drake (15 first-place votes), 347
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UNI (1), 320
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Southern Illinois (1), 297
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Wichita State (1), 214
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Evansville, 182
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Indiana State, 151
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Loyola, 142
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Bradley, 126
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Illinois State, 48
