Jensen and Maly Named Preseason All-BIG EAST, Bluejay Women's Basketball Picked Second in Preseason Poll

New York, N.Y. -- Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly each collected BIG EAST Preseason Team honors as the Bluejays' women's basketball team was selected second in the preseason coaches poll, announced on Wednesday, October 23 at the annual BIG EAST media day in Madison Square Garden.

Jensen and Maly each earned an All-BIG EAST First Team nod in 2023-24 and 2022-23. Jensen led the team with a 17.4 scoring average (558 points), to go with 98 assists and 27 steals. Maly posted a team-leading 209 rebounds and ranked third with 486 points.

The Bluejays finished second in the Preseason Poll with 91 points, including one first-place vote.

Defending conference champion Connecticut collected 100 points and 10 first-place votes in the poll for the second straight year. The Huskies have won the conference regular season 23 times, along with 22 BIG EAST Tournament titles, sweeping both in 2023-24. Providence earned third with 71 points, followed by St. John's (67) and Georgetown (66) to round out the top five.

Villanova (56) was picked sixth, Seton Hall earned seventh (51) and Butler took eighth (46). DePaul heads into the season ranked ninth in the preseason poll with 24 points, closely followed by Marquette (23). Xavier rounded out the 11-team poll with 10 points.

Coming off a third straight NCAA Tournament berth, Creighton returns seven players from last year, including Lauren Jensen, Morgan Maly, and Molly Mogensen. The Bluejays open the 2024-25 campaign ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Preseason Top-25 Poll.

Head Coach Jim Flanery begins his 22nd year as Creighton's all-time victory leader with a record of 401-262 (.605). Creighton went 26-6 overall and 15-3 in BIG EAST play a season ago, finishing in second place in the standings and advancing to the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals. The Bluejays have earned five NCAA Tournament berths since joining the BIG EAST before the 2013-14 season, highlighted by a run to the Elite Eight in 2022. Last season Creighton made it through to the NCAA Second Round where they fell to No. 6 UCLA (67-63).

The Bluejays begin the 2024-25 season at South Dakota State on Nov. 8, with a tip scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year – Paige Bueckers, Connecticut, R-Sr., G
BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year – Sarah Strong, Connecticut, Fr., F

Women's Basketball Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Caroline Strande, Butler, Gr., G
KK Arnold, Connecticut, So., G
Azzi Fudd, Connecticut, R-Jr., G
Ashlynn Shade, Connecticut, So., G
Lauren Jensen, Creighton, Sr., G
Morgan Maly, Creighton, Sr., G/F
Kelsey Ransom, Georgetown, Gr., G
Olivia Olsen, Providence, Sr., F
Grace Efosa, Providence, Gr., G
Ber'Nyah Mayo, St. John's, R-Sr., G

Honorable Mention
Kaitlyn Chen, Connecticut, Gr., G
Jorie Allen, DePaul, Gr., F
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, So., G

BIG EAST Women's
Basketball Preseason Poll

1. Connecticut – 100 (10 first-place votes)

2. Creighton – 91 (1)

3. Providence – 71

4. St. John's - 67

5. Georgetown – 66

6. Villanova – 56

7. Seton Hall – 51

8. Butler – 46

9. DePaul – 24

10. Marquette - 23

11. Xavier - 10

Jensen and Maly Named Preseason All-BIG EAST, Bluejay Women's Basketball Picked Second in Preseason Poll

Players Mentioned

Lauren Jensen

Morgan Maly

Molly Mogensen

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