CHICAGO (October 17, 2019) – Loyola University Chicago has been picked to finish seventh according to the Missouri Valley Conference's Preseason Poll, which was released on Thursday by the league office.  Voting for the poll was conducted by the Valley's head coaches, sports information directors, and selected media members.
 
Three-time defending MVC regular-season champion Drake came in atop the poll with 359 points, capturing 31 of a possible 40 first-place votes.  Missouri State (329), fresh off a run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen last season, collected eight first-place nods to come in second, while UNI (297) claimed the remaining first-place vote to round out the top three.
 
Bradley (255), Southern Illinois (235), and Illinois State (212) checked in fourth through sixth, followed by Loyola (188), Valparaiso (126), Indiana State (111), and Evansville (88).
 
Drake's Becca Hittner, who took home her second straight Jackie Stiles Player of the Year award in 2018-19, was named the MVC Preseason Player of the Year, headlining a five-member preseason all-conference squad that also included teammate Sara Rhine, Nicole Martin (Southern Illinois), TeTe Maggett (Illinois State), and Karli Rucker (UNI).
 
Set to enter her fourth year in charge in Rogers Park, head coach Kate Achter returns 10 letterwinners and all five starters from a 2018-19 squad that nearly doubled its win total from the previous year.  Loyola got off to its best start since the 2001-02 campaign and picked up its first postseason win in over three seasons, defeating Evansville, 90-80, in the opening round of the MVC Tournament.
 
Achter's group of returning letterwinners is led by the trio of Abby O'Connor, Allison Day, and Janae Gonzales.  O'Connor became the first Rambler since 2015-16 to earn First Team All-MVC honors following a standout sophomore campaign that saw post team-best marks of 14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 1.6 bpg.  Day and Gonzales both were recognized on the Valley's All-Freshman Team.  Day became a fixture in the Rambler lineup, starting in 20 of her 31 appearances as she chipped in 6.7 ppg and 5.8 rpg, while Gonzales added 11.4 ppg across 23 appearances before having her season cut short due to injury.
 
After hosting St. Francis (Ill.) in an exhibition matchup on October 29, Loyola will raise the curtain on the 2019-20 season on November 5 when it hits the road to battle former Horizon League foe Detroit Mercy.
 
2019-20 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Drake (31 first-place votes) – 359 points
2. Missouri State (8) – 329
3. UNI (1) – 297
4. Bradley – 255
5. Southern Illinois – 235
6. Illinois State – 212
7. Loyola – 188
8. Valparaiso – 126
9. Indiana State – 111
10. Evansville
 
MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Becca Hittner, Drake (MVC Preseason Player of the Year)
Nicole Martin, Southern Illinois
TeTe Maggett, Illinois State
Sara Rhine, Drake
Karli Rucker, UNI