MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll Release
CHICAGO (October 18, 2018) – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday morning. Voting for the poll is comprised of the conference's head coaches, sports information directors and media.
Drake, The Valley's two-time defending regular-season and tournament champion, topped the poll with 363 points, collecting 35 out of a possible 40 first-place votes. UNI (325) claimed four first-place nods to land second, while Missouri State (287) received the final remaining first-place vote to come in third. Southern Illinois (279) and Illinois State (223) rounded out the top five.
Bradley (193) checked in sixth, followed by Indiana State (192), Valparaiso (135), Loyola (129) and Evansville (76).
Drake's Becca Hittner, the reigning MVC Jackie Stiles Player of the Year, was voted as the Preseason Player of the Year as part of The Valley's Preseason All-Conference Team. Hittner was joined by teammate Sara Rhine, Alexa Willard of Missouri State, Megan Maahs of UNI and Nicole Martin of Southern Illinois.
Third-year head coach
Kate Achter returns sever letterwinners from last season's team that more than tripled its win total from the previous year. That group is led by 2017-18 MVC All-Freshman Team honoree
Abby O'Connor, who led the Maroon & Gold in scoring (10.5 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg). The Ramblers will also add a quartet of newcomers that includes junior college transfer
Jazmine Covington, and freshmen
Allison Day,
Maya Dunson and
Janae Gonzales.
Loyola will host North Central College in an exhibition contest at 1 p.m. on November 3 inside Gentile Arena before it officially raises the curtain on the 2018-19 season on November 9 when it hits the road to take on Youngstown State.
2018-19 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Drake (35 first-place votes) – 363
2. UNI (4) – 325
3. Missouri State (1) – 287
4. Southern Illinois – 279
5. Illinois State – 223
6. Bradley – 193
7. Indiana State – 192
8. Valparaiso – 135
9. Loyola – 127
10. Evansville – 76
MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Becca Hittner, Drake (MVC Preseason Player of the Year)
Megan Maahs, UNI
Nicole Martin, Southern Illinois
Sara Rhine, Drake
Alexa Willard, Missouri State
