Pioneers Picked to Finish Second in NEC Preseason Poll
11/11/2020 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SOMERSET, NJ – Last season the Sacred Heart University women's basketball team got hot towards the end and were poised for a run in the Northeast Conference Tournament. The league coaches think the Pioneers will be contenders in 2020-21 as they were picked second in the preseason poll released on Wednesday.
Head coach Jessica Mannetti's squad finished second behind Mount St. Mary's, who received all 10 first-place votes. Rounding out the top three behind the Pioneers was Saint Francis.
"While this year may be a bit different, the NEC season will always be competitive and exciting," Mannetti said. "I am grateful and appreciative that the league voted our team second and think is a testament to our players who continue to work hard two build a tradition of excellence here at SHU."
Senior Adrianne Hagood was named to the Preseason All-NEC team. The Washington, D.C., native led SHU last year at 15.6 points per game on her way to Second-Team All-NEC honors. Sacred Heart will have one of its most talented teams as Mannetti brings back her top six scorers from a year ago.
Sacred Heart kicks off the 2020-21 campaign on November 25 at Fairfield.
2020-21 NEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Mount St. Mary's
2. Sacred Heart
3. Saint Francis
4. Fairleigh Dickinson
5. LIU
6. Wagner
7. Merrimack
8. Bryant
9. St. Francis Brooklyn
10. Central Connecticut
2020-21 Preseason All-NEC Women's Basketball Team
Nevena Dimitrijevic, St. Francis Brooklyn, So, G, Kragujevac, Serbia/Druga Kragujevaca Gimnazija
Adrianne Hagood, Sacred Heart, Sr, G, 5-8, Washington, D.C./Elizabeth Seton
Michaela Harrison, Mount St. Mary's, Jr, G, 5-7, Cleveland, OH/Lake Ridge Academy
Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner, Jr, F, 6-0, Ligatne, Latvia/Liepajas Papirisk SSS
Brandy Thomas, LIU, Jr, G, 5-10, Baldwin, NY/Christ the King
