BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With 160 points and 15 first-place votes, the Bucknell Bison women’s basketball team was selected as the 2020-21 Patriot League women’s basketball preseason favorite. In addition, Lafayette senior forward Natalie Kucowski was named the Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, when honors were announced on Monday morning.

Joining Kucowski on the preseason All-League team are American junior guard Jade Edwards, Boston University senior guard Katie Nelson, Bucknell senior guard Abby Kapp and Holy Cross junior guard Avery LaBarbera. Last March, Kucowski was named to the 2019-20 All-Patriot League First Team, while Edwards, Nelson, Kapp and LaBarbera were all second-team recipients.

Boston University was chosen second in the preseason poll with 145 points and five first-place votes, followed by Lafayette, which placed third with 121 points.

Lehigh, the 2019-20 preseason favorite, received 112 points to place fourth, followed by American which garnered 91 points. Colgate nabbed 69 points for sixth, followed by Loyola Maryland (62), Army West Point (59), Holy Cross (58) and Navy who rounded out the poll with 24 points.

Voting for the Patriot League women’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 team or student-athletes.

2020-21 Patriot League Women’s Preseason Player of the Year
Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette, Sr., F, Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy
* Kucowski comes into the 2020-21 season averaging 13.5 points and 12.8 boards per game (first in the League in ’19-20), after guiding the Leopards to a 15-14 overall mark last season for their first winning record since 1997-98.
* Kucowski also recorded 19 double-doubles last season, which ranked seventh in Division I.
* The senior forward finished last season first in the Patriot League in rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game (9.4), blocked shots per game (2.8) and blocks (80).
* She capped off her junior year as the first-ever student-athlete in program history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 career rebounds.
* Recently, Kucowski was named to the Her Hoop Stats preseason watch list for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, and to the Katrina McClain Award watch list. The McClain award recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA DI college basketball.

Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Listed alphabetically by institution
Jade Edwards, American, Jr., G, Chicago, Ill./The Latin School of Chicago
* 2019-20 Stats: 29 GP, 29 GS, 14.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 39 steals
* 2019-20 Accolades: All-Patriot League Second Team

Katie Nelson, Boston University, Sr., G, Falmouth, Mass./Bishop Feehan
* 2019-20 Stats: 30 GP, 30 GS, 12.4 ppg, 3.6 apg, 27 steals
* 2019-20 Accolades: All-Patriot League Second Team

Abby Kapp, Bucknell, Sr., G, Barto, Pa./Boyertown
* 2019-20 Stats: 30 GP, 30 GS, 10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 30 steals
* 2019-20 Accolades: All-Patriot League Second Team

Avery LaBarbera, Holy Cross, Jr., G, Harrison, N.Y./Harrison
* 2019-20 Stats: 30 GP, 29 GS, 13.7 ppg, 101 assists, 40 steals, .827 FT%
* 2019-20 Accolades: All-Patriot League Second Team

Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette, Sr., F, Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy
* 2019-20 Stats: 29 GP, 29 GS, 13.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 75 assists, 80 blocks
* 2019-20 Accolades: All-Patriot League First Team

Patriot League Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Bucknell – 160 (15 first-place votes)
Boston University – 145 (5)
Lafayette – 121
Lehigh – 112
American – 91
Colgate – 69
Loyola Maryland – 62
Army West Point – 59
Holy Cross – 58
Navy – 24

The Patriot League women’s basketball season will begin on Saturday, Jan. 2, with the 10 League institutions divided into three regional mini-conferences. Teams will play four games against each regional opponent with additional League games played outside of the mini-conferences to complete the 16-game regular-season schedule. The final day of the regular season is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28. The Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship Game set for Sunday, March 14. For more information visit the League’s official website – www.PatriotLeague.org.

ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth 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.