Westminster Top Preseason Poll

On the heels of their third consecutive regular season SLIAC title the Westminster College Blue Jays are the 2013-14 Women's Basketball Preseason favorites as voted on by the league's coaches. The Blue Jays received 74 total points including five first-place votes.

Westminster finished last season with a 17-11 overall record and a 14-2 conference mark. They went on to capture their second consecutive SLIAC Tournament Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Blue Jays return nine players but just one starter from last year's squad. The lone returning starter is senior guard Leigh Ann Lutz. Lutz earned First Team All-Conference honors last season after averaging 14.1 points per game while knocking down 75 three-point field goals last season. Westminster was the league's top outside shooting team last year, hitting on 34-percent of three point shots.

Eureka College and Webster University tied for second in the preseason poll, receiving 67 total points. Eureka, last year's preseason favorite, received two first-place votes and finished last season with a 16-9 overall record and an 11-5 conference record. The Red Devils return four starters from last year's team including a pair of All-Conference performers. Senior guard/forward Caty Eeteen will be looking to close out her standout career with a shot at setting the program's scoring record. Eeteen led the SLIAC in scoring last season at 22.2 points per game last season, earning First Team honors, while junior center Kelsey Shoemake averaged 13.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and was named Second Team All-Conference.

Webster University received one first place vote and tied for second in the poll. Webster finished last year with a 15-12 overall record and an 11-5 conference mark. The Gorloks return three starters and seven players and will count on the healthy return of junior forward Cassie Endicott. Endicott, who played in just 12 games last season after battling injuries, is a former Newcomer of the Year as well as named to the All-Conference and All-Defensive teams in 2011-12. Courtney Pursley is the team's top returning scorer, at 10.6 points per game. The Gorloks bring in a trio of transfers, highlighted by long-range specialist Ashley Brooks, and four freshmen.

Spalding University was picked fourth, receiving 61 total points including the remaining two first place votes. Spalding returns four starters from last year's squad that went 13-13 overall and 10-6 in the SLIAC. The Golden Eagles will be led by two-time All-Conference performer, senior guard Kerstin Hayes. Hayes averaged 13.7 points and 3.3 assists per game last season. The Golden Eagles bring in 11 newcomers and will need to find a replacement for 2012-13 SLIAC Player of the Year Kelly Harrod.

Fontbonne University was chosen fifth with 45 total points and return just one starter and four players from a team last year that was 9-16 overall and 8-8 in the conference. The Griffins will be looking for a full return from senior center Chelsey Freymuth who sat out last season with a torn ACL. Sophomore guard Nicole Joerger is the team's top returning scorer at 6.0 points per game.

Iowa Wesleyan College was picked sixth in the poll, receiving 41 total points. The conference newcomers finished last season 9-17 overall and bring back four starters. The Tigers top returning scorer is guard Jana Meister, who averaged 10.7 points per game last season. The Tigers will need to replace All-American Ashley Kruse and hope to do so with a bevy of newcomers including transfers Dakota Flesner, Whitney Godden and Karla Vietinghoff.

Greenville College finished seventh in the preseason poll with 38 points and bring back just two starters but nine players from last year's team. The Panthers finished last year with a 13-12 overall record and an 8-8 conference record. They will be looking to three-year starter senior guard Emily Gundy to provide leadership. Also returning is sophomore forward Coley Baker, who led the conference in blocked shots last season, and sophomore guard Jamie Schollenbruch. The Panthers bring in transfer Miranda Murray and freshmen Whitney Vitt and Claire Schmitt to add to the already deep lineup.

MacMurray College was picked to finish eighth with 25 points in the preseason poll. The Highlanders welcome in new head coach Derek James, who takes over a program that was 10-14 overall and 7-9 in the conference last season. The Highlanders return eight players and just one starter. They bring in a strong class including a pair freshman that earned honorable mention All-State last season in Carley Prince and Kay Dee Carmody.

Blackburn College was chosen ninth with 15 points and bring back three starters from last year's team. The Beavers finished last year with a 3-21 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the SLIAC. Leading the way for the Beavers are Briana Rae and Shelby Smith. Rae averaged 11.7 and 8.2 rebounds per game last season while Smith led the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game.

Principia College was picked tenth with seven total points. Principia finished last season with a 2-20 overall record and brings back three starters and five players. For the first time since 2007, the Panthers will have a roster in double figures, which will allow them to utilize different lineup combinations and provide depth. Junior guard Becca DeNicholas is the leading returning scorer at 7.8 points per game.

2013-14 SLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Westminster
T-2. Eureka
T-2. Webster
4. Spalding
5. Fontbonne
6. Iowa Wesleyan
7. Greenville
8. MacMurray
9. Blackburn
10. Principia