Women's Basketball Tabbed MVC Preseason Favorites
10/27/2009 9:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. LOUIS – The Creighton women's basketball team has been picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference as voted on by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media and announced by the league office Tuesday. The Bluejays received 34 of 40 first places votes to toal 393 points in the preseason poll. Bluejay senior forward Megan Neuvirth, the reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year, has been selected as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Bluejays were last voted to win the league before the 2002-03 season, when they would go on to tie for the league crown. This marks the third time in 18 seasons as members of the MVC that the Jays have been predicted to win the title, also being tabbed preseason favorites prior to the 1994-95 season.
Illinois State, the reigning MVC champions, garnered the other six first place votes and totalled 340 points to rank second in the preseason poll. Drake (296), Northern Iowa (253) and Indiana State (250) round out the top half of the preseason poll.
Bradley (214) is picked to finish sixth after a surprising fourth-place finish last year. The Braves are followed by Missouri State (188) and last year's MVC tournament champion Evansville (108). Wichita State (97) and Southern Illinois (61) are picked to finish ninth and tenth, respectively.
Neuvirth, who led the league in rebounds and steals last year, is also the MVC's active career leader with 714 rebounds and 211 steals, while she ranks in the top-five active Valley leaders in scoring, free-throws made, assists and blocked shots. The West Point, Neb., native was one of five players in the NCAA to rank in the top-50 in both rebounds and steals per game last year, while her 325 boards established a school record.
Neuvirth is joined by Illinois State's Maggie Krick, Indiana State's Kelsey Luna, Missouri State's Casey Garrison and Drake's Jordann Plummer on the 2009-10 preseason team.
The Bluejays return 83.9 percent of their scoring, 84 percent of their rebounding and 88.2 percent of their assists from last year's 22-12 team which finished second in the MVC with a 14-4 mark and advanced to the MVC tournament championship game and the second round of the WNIT. Senior guard Chevelle Herring was a second-team all-MVC honoree last year, leading the team and finishing sixth in the league with 13 points per game. Junior guard Kelsey Woodard was named honorable-mention all-MVC after leading the league with 37.6 minutes per game and 88 three-pointers on the year.
Fans can get their first look at the preseason MVC favorites at an open practice this Saturday at D.J. Sokol Arena. The women will practice from noon until 2 p.m. at their new facility. Admission is free to the event (the men's team will practice from 10 a.m. until noon) but fans are encouraged to bring a canned or boxed food item as a donation to the Siena/Francis House (collection receptacles will be positioned at entry points). Autograph sessions will be held after the practice sessions, concessions will be available for purchase throughout the day and 2009-10 roster sheets for each team will be available.
Creighton opens its 2009-10 season with its only exhibition game at the new Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena on Thursday, Nov. 5, when it plays host to Nebraska-Omaha at 7:05 p.m. CU opens the regular-season against Arkansas State at D.J. Sokol Arena on Friday, Nov. 13. For season ticket information contact the Creighton athletics ticket office at (402) 280-JAYS.
The Bluejays were last voted to win the league before the 2002-03 season, when they would go on to tie for the league crown. This marks the third time in 18 seasons as members of the MVC that the Jays have been predicted to win the title, also being tabbed preseason favorites prior to the 1994-95 season.
Illinois State, the reigning MVC champions, garnered the other six first place votes and totalled 340 points to rank second in the preseason poll. Drake (296), Northern Iowa (253) and Indiana State (250) round out the top half of the preseason poll.
Bradley (214) is picked to finish sixth after a surprising fourth-place finish last year. The Braves are followed by Missouri State (188) and last year's MVC tournament champion Evansville (108). Wichita State (97) and Southern Illinois (61) are picked to finish ninth and tenth, respectively.
Neuvirth, who led the league in rebounds and steals last year, is also the MVC's active career leader with 714 rebounds and 211 steals, while she ranks in the top-five active Valley leaders in scoring, free-throws made, assists and blocked shots. The West Point, Neb., native was one of five players in the NCAA to rank in the top-50 in both rebounds and steals per game last year, while her 325 boards established a school record.
Neuvirth is joined by Illinois State's Maggie Krick, Indiana State's Kelsey Luna, Missouri State's Casey Garrison and Drake's Jordann Plummer on the 2009-10 preseason team.
The Bluejays return 83.9 percent of their scoring, 84 percent of their rebounding and 88.2 percent of their assists from last year's 22-12 team which finished second in the MVC with a 14-4 mark and advanced to the MVC tournament championship game and the second round of the WNIT. Senior guard Chevelle Herring was a second-team all-MVC honoree last year, leading the team and finishing sixth in the league with 13 points per game. Junior guard Kelsey Woodard was named honorable-mention all-MVC after leading the league with 37.6 minutes per game and 88 three-pointers on the year.
Fans can get their first look at the preseason MVC favorites at an open practice this Saturday at D.J. Sokol Arena. The women will practice from noon until 2 p.m. at their new facility. Admission is free to the event (the men's team will practice from 10 a.m. until noon) but fans are encouraged to bring a canned or boxed food item as a donation to the Siena/Francis House (collection receptacles will be positioned at entry points). Autograph sessions will be held after the practice sessions, concessions will be available for purchase throughout the day and 2009-10 roster sheets for each team will be available.
Creighton opens its 2009-10 season with its only exhibition game at the new Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena on Thursday, Nov. 5, when it plays host to Nebraska-Omaha at 7:05 p.m. CU opens the regular-season against Arkansas State at D.J. Sokol Arena on Friday, Nov. 13. For season ticket information contact the Creighton athletics ticket office at (402) 280-JAYS.
| MVC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll | ||
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Total Points |
| 1. |
Creighton (34) |
393 |
| 2. |
Illinois State (6) |
340 |
| 3. |
Drake |
296 |
| 4. |
Northern Iowa |
253 |
| 5. |
Indiana State |
250 |
| 6. |
Bradley | 214 |
| 7. |
Missouri State |
188 |
| 8. |
Evansville |
108 |
| 9. |
Wichita State |
97 |
| 10. |
Southern Illinois |
61 |
Players Mentioned
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