CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Army West Point and defending Patriot League Champion Bucknell were selected as the 2017-18 Patriot League Women’s Basketball preseason co-favorites, earning an identical 140 points and seven first-place votes. In addition, Black Knights’ junior forward Madison Hovren was named the Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, when honors were announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The announcement comes in conjunction with the Patriot League Network’s Preseason Women’s Basketball Show on the PLN. The show, hosted by PLN correspondent Morgan Uber and produced by Director of Multimedia and Creative Services Jimmy Johnson, includes the preseason poll and all-League team along with interviews with Hovren, Bucknell Head Coach Aaron Roussell and Army West Point Head Coach Dave Magarity.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
The Black Knights return a strong core around Hovren to tie defending champion Bucknell atop the preseason poll. American finished closely behind in third-place with 134 points and five first-place votes. Last season’s League runner-up Navy tallied 119 points and the final first-place vote, while Boston University checks in at fifth, with 91 points. Holy Cross (81), Lehigh (64), Colgate (55), Loyola Maryland (54) and Lafayette (22) round out the preseason poll.
Hovren (18.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg) – a 2016-17 First Team All-Patriot League selection - was recognized as the League’s preseason player of the year, while headlining a preseason all-League team that features a pair of first-team members and two second-team picks from a year ago. Boston University senior center Sophie Beaudry (12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg) – who was named to the all-League first-team and all-defensive team during her junior season – is joined on the preseason team by fellow 2016-17 first-team honoree Loyola Maryland senior guard Bri Betz-White (15.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg). Bucknell junior forward Kaitlyn Slagus (12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.0 apg) and last season’s Patriot League Rookie of the Year Holy Cross sophomore forward Lauren Manis (13.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 apg) make the preseason squad after earning second team accolades last season.
Voting for the Patriot League men’s basketball preseason poll, player of the year and all-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2017-18 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Army West Point, 140 (7 first-place votes)
Bucknell, 140 (7 first-place votes)
American, 134 (5)
Navy, 119 (1)
Boston University, 91
Holy Cross, 81
Lehigh, 64
Colgate, 55
Loyola Maryland, 54
Lafayette, 22
2017-18 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Madison Hovren, Army West Point, Jr., F
2017-18 Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Madison Hovren, Army West Point, Jr., F
Sophie Beaudry, Boston University, Sr., C
Kaitlyn Slagus, Bucknell, Jr., F
Lauren Manis, Holy Cross, So., F
Bri Betz-White, Loyola Maryland, Sr., G
Army West Point Black Knights (22-9, 12-6 PL in 2016-17)
Head Coach Dave Magarity - in his 12th season leading the Black Knights – enters the season in an enviable position with Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year junior forward Madison Hovren (18.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 0.9 apg) and the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year senior guard Aliyah Murray (8.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.9 apg) back in the fold. Army West Point will have experience on its side, returning eight players that averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season, including all-defensive team selection senior guard Janae McNeal (9.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.6 apg) to help the squad build on an already stout defense that allowed a League-low 57.5 points per game last season. Senior guards Daizjah and Destinee Morris and junior guard Jess Lewis also return, giving Magarity six players that averaged six points or more during the 2016-17 campaign.
Bucknell Bison (27-6, 16-2 PL)
Head Coach Aaron Roussell – the two-time defending Patriot League Coach of the Year – begins his sixth season in Lewisburg looking to repeat as champions without the help of 2017 Patriot League of the Year and tournament MVP Clare DeBoer and all-League forward Sune Swart. Roussell and the Bison do return two starters, including preseason all-League selection junior forward Kaitlyn Slagus (12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.0 apg) and junior guard Kyi English (7.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Junior forward Kate Walker (9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) shot 45.4 percent from 3-point range last season and the League’s best returning shooter from distance. Bucknell will also have several underclassmen, including four freshmen, looking to make an impact and help the Bison extend its 28-game home winning streak, which stands as third-longest in the nation behind UConn and UCLA.
American Eagles (15-16, 11-7 PL)
Head Coach Megan Gebbia – in her fifth season leading the Eagles – has four starters back from a team that fell to eventual champion Bucknell in the Patriot League semifinals last season. The Eagles are led by a pair of 2016-17 All-Patriot League selections in senior guard Emily Kinneston (12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 3.3 apg) and junior forward Cecily Carl (10.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 apg). Senior guard Maria Liddane led the League with 4.9 assists per game last season, while junior guard Kaitlyn Lewis (7.7 ppg) also returns after starting 26 games for the Eagles. Including the four returning starters, Gebbia’s Eagles are an upperclassmen-laden squad with a combined 10 juniors and seniors on the roster.
Navy Midshipmen (24-10, 14-4 PL)
Head Coach Stefanie Pemper – who begins her 10th season at Navy – returns three starters and five players who averaged double-digit minutes per game from last season’s team that fell to Bucknell in the Patriot League Championship Game. Pemper and the Mids lose all-League talent Sarita Condie, but return a pair of senior guards with Taylor Dunham (10.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Hannah Fenske (7.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg). Fenske shot 41.2 percent from 3-point range for a Mids’ team that was the best outside shooting squad in the League in 2016-17. Sophomore forward Kaila Clark (5.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg) was among the League leaders with 1.7 blocks per game. The Mids will also welcome six freshmen to the roster this season.
Boston University Terriers (13-17, 11-7 PL)
Katy Steding – in her fourth season as the Terriers’ head coach – welcomes back three starters, including all-League center Sophie Beaudry (12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who led the Patriot League with 2.1 blocks per game last season. Sophomore forward Nia Irving (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg), an all-rookie selection last season, is expected to play a larger role along with a pair of returning starters in senior guard Corinne Williams (8.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.0 apg) and junior forward Naiyah Thompson (6.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 spg).
Holy Cross Crusaders (8-22, 6-12 PL)
Head Coach Bill Gibbons begins his 33rd season in charge of the Holy Cross women’s basketball program, looking to build on the squad’s eighth-place finish last season with plenty of talent on the roster. Last season’s Patriot League Rookie of the Year and second-team all-League selection sophomore forward Lauren Manis (13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 bpg) returns along with senior guard and returning leading scorer Infiniti Thomas (13.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg). Senior guards Tricia Byrne (8.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 1.9 spg) and Katie Doherty (7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg) give the team extra punch on offense.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks (10-20, 5-13 PL)
Head Coach Sue Troyan opens her 23rd campaign at Lehigh and is looking to take the Mountain Hawks back toward the top of the standings after a ninth-place finish last season. Troyan and Lehigh will welcome back senior guard Quinci Mann (15.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.2 apg), a third-team all-League selection last season, who finished third in the League in scoring. Sophomore forward Gena Grundhoffer (9.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.5 apg) will look to build on a promising rookie campaign, along with classmate Camryn Buhr (7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), who started 27 games for the Mountain Hawks last season. Overall, Lehigh returns nine players that averaged double-digit minutes last season, giving Troyan a more experienced rotation.
Colgate Raiders (10-20, 7-11 PL)
Head Coach Bill Cleary begins his second season at the helm of a Raiders program that finished sixth in the Patriot League last season. Cleary returns an all-rookie performer in sophomore guard Rachel Thompson (10.2, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), along with senior guard Kateri Stone (12.2 ppg, 1.4 apg, 37.1 3PT%) to the Raiders’ backcourt. Up front the Raiders return junior forwards Mylah Chandler (5.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Summer King (5.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg).
Loyola Maryland Greyhounds (11-20, 6-12 PL)
Head Coach Joe Logan starts his 13th season in Baltimore after leading the Greyhounds to a near upset of Bucknell in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament last season. Logan and the Greyhounds return leading scorer and senior all-League guard Bri Betz-White (15.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg) and sophomore guard Stephanie Karcz (9.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.5 spg), an all-defensive and all-rookie team selection last season, to the backcourt. Sophomore guard Molly Taylor (5.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg) shot 42 percent from 3-point range last season and will be counted on to stretch the floor.
Lafayette Leopards (4-28, 2-16 PL)
Head Coach Kia Damon prepares to open her first season on College Hill, looking to help turn around a Leopards’ program that finished at the bottom of the League standings a year ago. Damon and staff will have to replace the program’s top-two scorers from last season, but they will have the benefit of its starting senior backcourt with Anna Ptasinski (6.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 33.8 3PT%) and Sammy Stipa (6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg). Junior guard Nia Holland (2.6 ppg) saw time in all 32 games a year ago and will have an opportunity to make an impact on a roster that includes seven freshmen and sophomores.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.