Women's Basketball picked fourth; Martin selected to Preseason All-MVC team
10/18/2018 | 9:36:00 | Women's Basketball
ST. LOUIS – The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, the conference announced Tuesday. Junior Nicole Martin has been selected to the five-member Preseason All-MVC Team.
Back-to-back defending MVC champion Drake was projected to finish first, followed by Northern Iowa. Missouri State, SIU and Illinois State rounded out the top-five.
The Salukis, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein, finished 17-14 overall and earned the fourth seed in the MVC Tournament with a 11-7 mark a year ago. SIU returns an experienced nucleus of 12 letterwinners from last season.
The returners are led by 2018 All-MVC first team selection Nicole Martin as well as 2018 MVC Freshman of the Year Abby Brockmeyer. Martin had a breakout sophomore campaign in which she led the team in scoring and finished the regular season ranked in the top-15 in the Valley in six statistical categories while Brockmeyer led all MVC freshmen in rebounds, blocks, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.
Southern also adds a pair of talented newcomers to the mix in 2018-19. Freshmen Caitlin Link and Payton McCallister both come from state championship winning high school programs and are set to make their collegiate debuts.
In total, Southern Illinois brings back the bulk of its statistical production from last season with a roster that includes seven underclassmen and eight upperclassmen. The Salukis return 81.8 percent of their scoring output from last year, 85.9 percent of their rebounds, 81.3 percent of their steals and 79.2 percent of their assists.
Martin, a 6-foot-1 forward from Jefferson City, Mo., was one of five chosen to the league's preseason all-conference squad. She was joined by Megan Maahs of Northern Iowa, Alexa Willard of Missouri State, Sara Rhine and Becca Hittner of Drake. Hittner, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, was selected as the league's preseason Player of the Year.
The Salukis open the 2018-19 season with a pair of home exhibition contests, beginning with McKendree University on Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. SIU opens the regular season on Nov. 9 when it travels to UT Martin.
To buy tickets for this season call 877-SALUKIS or visit here.
Projected order of finish:
Drake (363 points)
Northern Iowa (325)
Missouri State (287)
Southern Illinois (279)
Illinois State (223)
Bradley (193)
Indiana State (192)
Valparaiso (135)
Loyola (127)
Evansville (76)
Back-to-back defending MVC champion Drake was projected to finish first, followed by Northern Iowa. Missouri State, SIU and Illinois State rounded out the top-five.
The Salukis, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein, finished 17-14 overall and earned the fourth seed in the MVC Tournament with a 11-7 mark a year ago. SIU returns an experienced nucleus of 12 letterwinners from last season.
The returners are led by 2018 All-MVC first team selection Nicole Martin as well as 2018 MVC Freshman of the Year Abby Brockmeyer. Martin had a breakout sophomore campaign in which she led the team in scoring and finished the regular season ranked in the top-15 in the Valley in six statistical categories while Brockmeyer led all MVC freshmen in rebounds, blocks, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.
Southern also adds a pair of talented newcomers to the mix in 2018-19. Freshmen Caitlin Link and Payton McCallister both come from state championship winning high school programs and are set to make their collegiate debuts.
In total, Southern Illinois brings back the bulk of its statistical production from last season with a roster that includes seven underclassmen and eight upperclassmen. The Salukis return 81.8 percent of their scoring output from last year, 85.9 percent of their rebounds, 81.3 percent of their steals and 79.2 percent of their assists.
Martin, a 6-foot-1 forward from Jefferson City, Mo., was one of five chosen to the league's preseason all-conference squad. She was joined by Megan Maahs of Northern Iowa, Alexa Willard of Missouri State, Sara Rhine and Becca Hittner of Drake. Hittner, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, was selected as the league's preseason Player of the Year.
The Salukis open the 2018-19 season with a pair of home exhibition contests, beginning with McKendree University on Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. SIU opens the regular season on Nov. 9 when it travels to UT Martin.
To buy tickets for this season call 877-SALUKIS or visit here.
Projected order of finish:
Drake (363 points)
Northern Iowa (325)
Missouri State (287)
Southern Illinois (279)
Illinois State (223)
Bradley (193)
Indiana State (192)
Valparaiso (135)
Loyola (127)
Evansville (76)
Players Mentioned
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