Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll Announced; Sacred Heart Picked Fourth
11/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2003
FAIRFIELD, CT (November 11, 2003) - The Northeast Conference announced it's 2003-04 Preseason Coaches Poll Tuesday afternoon via media teleconference and the Sacred Heart women's basketball team was tabbed to finish fourth. The Pioneers were voted to finish fourth tied with Monmouth in a vote conducted by the league's coaches. St. Francis (PA) was voted as the preseason favorite with Quinnipiac and Mount St. Mary's following in second and third. The Pioneers did receive one of the 10 first place votes in the poll.
The Pioneers return seven players from last year's team that finished 18-10 and in third place in the NEC. Seniors Ashley Kohl (Palmyra, PA), Kate Maher (Waterford, Ireland) and Shannon Quinlivan (Albany, NY) will captain this year's club, who also welcome back the 2002-03 NEC Rookie of the Year, Nicolle Rubino (Port Jefferson Station, NY). Rubino was the Pioneer's second leading scorer a year ago when she averaged 12.3 points per game.
Six freshmen join this group as not only a solid young nucleus for the future but also to push the Pioneers toward success this season. Guard Amanda Pape (Stamford, CT), the 2002-03 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Connecticut, leads a class that also includes guard/forward Mary Rush (Waterbury, CT), guard Kerri Burke (Saugus, MA), forwards Colleen Bray (Green Oaks, IL), Jasmine Walker (Amityville, NY) and Aleisha Mott (Ansonia, CT).
SHU gets the 2003-04 season tipped-off next Friday, November 21st when they host the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen. The schedule also features a Thanksgiving holiday trip to the University of Maryland for the Terrapin Classic Tournament with Maryland-Eastern Shore and Louisiana-Lafayette. The Pioneers will travel to Chestnut Hill, MA in December to face the Boston College Eagles who advanced to the Sweet 16 in last year's NCAA Tournament.
Conducted annually, NEC coaches have correctly forecasted the eventual league champion in six of the last 11 years. St. Francis (PA) was picked correctly and won the NEC Championship during the 2002-03, 1998-99, 1997-98 and 1995-96 seasons. The Mount came out on top of the polls and won the league title in the 1994-95 and 1993-94 campaigns. The Red Flash also won conference crowns in 1997 (picked tied for fifth), 2000 (picked second) and 2002 (picked eighth), after being incorrectly predicted in the preseason polls. Long Island won the title in 2001 after being picked sixth, while Mount St. Mary's was selected second in 1992-93 and won it all to defy the preseason predictions.
2003-04 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll1. St. Francis (PA) (7) 2. Quinnipiac (3) 3. Mount St. Mary's 4. Monmouth Sacred Heart (1) 6. Wagner 7. Long Island 8. Fairleigh Dickinson 9. Central Connecticut State 10. Robert Morris 11. St. Francis (NY)
First place votes in parentheses
For full NEC Press Release click here
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