CHICAGO (October 13, 2020) – Coming off its first winning season since 2012-13, Loyola University Chicago has been tabbed to finish eighth according to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, which was announced on Tuesday by the league office. Voting for the poll was conducted by The Valley's head coaches, sports information directors, and selected media members.
 
Missouri State, the conference's reigning regular season champion, racked up 33 out of a possible 40 first-place votes to top the poll with 360 points.  Bradley (328), which received the remaining seven first-place votes, checked in second, while UNI (288) and Drake (282) landed third and fourth, respectively.
 
Illinois State (223), Southern Illinois (201), and Valparaiso (176) preceded the Ramblers in fifth through seventh, with Indiana State (129) and Evansville (80) rounding out the poll.
 
Bradley's Lasha Petree was voted as The Valley's Preseason Player of the Year, leading a preseason all-conference squad that also featured teammate Gabi Haack, Brice Calip (Missouri State), Jasmine Franklin (Missouri State), and Karli Rucker (UNI).
 
Set to begin her fifth season in Rogers Park, head coach Kate Achter welcomes back an impressive nucleus of 10 letterwinners from last season's team that finished 15-14 overall (6-12 MVC).  That group includes three starters, a group led by forward Allison Day, who averaged 10.7 points in 2019-20, a mark that ranked second on the Rambler roster.
 
2020-21 MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Missouri State (33 first-place votes) – 360 points
2. Bradley (7) – 328
3. UNI – 288
4. Drake – 282
5. Illinois State – 223
6. Southern Illinois – 201
7. Valparaiso – 176
8. Loyola – 133
9. Indiana State – 129
10. Evansville – 80
 
MVC Preseason All-Conference Team
Brice Calip, Missouri State
Jasmine Franklin, Missouri State
Gabi Haack, Bradley
Lasha Petree, Bradley (MVC Preseason Player of the Year)
Karli Rucker, UNI