Spalding University is the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason favorites for the 2019-20 women's basketball season. The Golden Eagles edged out Greenville University, Webster University, and Westminster College in the anticipated postseason participants for the season.

Spalding received 70 total points in the poll, picking up 2 first-place votes. The Golden Eagles only lose one player from last year's team that finished 20-7 and advanced to the SLIAC Tournament Championship game, although that player was SLIAC Player of the Year, Alex Martin. Head Coach Charlie Just will have an experienced group that will lead in Martin's absence. That class is headed up by forward Allison Just, a 3rd Team All-Conference player last season. Just averaged 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. Fellow seniors Tse Gahagan (7.4 ppg, 3.8 apg) and Megan Goeing (8.9 ppg) join Just in the leadership role. Sophomore Maleah Hirn looks to follow up an impressive freshman season in which she was second on the team with 11.3 points per game while leading the team in three-pointers. Her classmate, Hunter Wright was just as impressive averaging 9.4 points and a team high 7.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Meagan Hayden should push for playing time.

Defending SLIAC Champion Greenville University was picked 2nd in the poll with 64 total points, receiving 3 first-place votes. The Panthers return 13 players from last year's championship team but only two starters. Those starters are senior point guard Brittany Lopez and junior wing Megan Barrett. Lopez was 4th in the SLIAC with 95 assists last season while Barrett averaged 6.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Despite starting just three games last season, forward Morgan St. James is one of the more impactful players in the league. The senior averaged 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while leading the league with 55 blocked shots on her way to earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors. Senior Hannah Krukewitt figures to provide leadership for coach Roy Mulholland. Top newcomers include Abigail and Emily Reinneck and Mady Stephen.

Webster University was chosen 3rd in the poll, finishing with 63 total points but a leading 4 first-place votes. The Gorloks are the most experienced team in the league with all five starters coming back and 13 players overall. Despite all of the returnees they have just one senior, guard Jaysea Morgan. Morgan, an All-Conference player and one of the top defenders in the league, averaged 10.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.5 steals per game last season. Addison Beussink (12.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Naomi Johnson (10.4 ppg) were the top two scorers last season and earned 3rd Team All-SLIAC honors. Kaylee Heggeman and Hannah Cottrell are the other two starters coming back for Head Coach Jordan Olufson. He will look to work in freshmen Julie Baudendistel, Kourtney Krege, and Tiffany Sakamoto into his deep rotation.

Coming in 4th on the poll was Westminster College with 52 total points. The Blue Jays will have a new look after the graduation of All-American Kendahl Adams and a new coach at the helm. First-year head coach Talisha Washington takes over a program that brings back three starters and 13 players. Among those returning are junior guard Kallee Dowler. Dowler is one of the top shooters in the SLIAC, leading the league with 80 three-point field goals and ranking 2nd in three-point percentage while averaging 12.2 points per game and being named 3rd Team All-Conference. Abbie Reece will look to make the jump on the court after averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds as a true freshman last season. Senior Rei Imamura, who missed time due to an injury last year, is ready for a full return to the court while Mikaylin Callahan will be looked on to control the boards and Makayla Jackson will be a key on the defensive end of the court. Newcomers Jackie and Reese Arnold and Abby Nichols join the Blue Jays this season.

Eureka College picked up 41 total points, tying for 5th place on the poll. The Red Devils were 14-11 overall last season and just missed out on the postseason. Head Coach Amos Arbogast returns six players and three starters including senior guards Kennedy Dura and Ashley Harfst. Dura, one of the top playmakers in the nation with 110 assists, averaged 10.0 points per game last season while Harfst loves to attack the basket, leading the league in free-throws, and averaged 12.1 points per game. Olivia Falls averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in her first season with Eureka and will look to take that up another level this year. Ja'Keesha Hawkins and Marissa Murphy will see larger roles on the court this season. Lauren Ausmus, Whitney Bozarth, and Jadyn Mitchell will push for playing time.

Tying for 5th place on the poll with 41 points was Fontbonne University. The Griffins are coached by Maureen Sias and return nine players and three starters. Junior guard Rylee Stafford will be looking for a similar bump in performance this year after increasing her scoring by over five points per game from her freshman year to last season. Stafford was in the top 5 in the conference in points, three's, and free-throws last season. With Stafford on the outside, the inside belongs to senior Raven Venegas. Venegas averaged 12.2 points and 5.8 rebouns per game last season while shooting 55-percent from the field. Although just a freshman Kourtney White could compete to fill the role vacated by the gradution of point guard Paige Black.

Iowa Wesleyan University was picked 7th with 27 total points. The Tigers welcome in first-year head coach Temaine Wright. Although one Massner, Darby, graduated the program still has another in Allie. Allie averaged 14.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season while tying for the team lead with 48 three-pointers. A pair of sophomores in Harriet Fowler and Deericka Martin will be counted on to continue their development after significant playing time as freshmen last year. Fowler averaged 7.9 points and 3.7 assists per game last season while Martin averaged 6.8 points per game. Look for juniors Morgan McCrea and Davance Gross as well as freshman Sydney Farrar to join the lineup at some point during the season.

Blackburn College finished 8th on the poll with 23 points and brings in new head coach Nick Morgan. Coach Morgan takes over a program that returns its top two scorers from last year. Jenna Dudra, a junior guard, averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last season while earning SLIAC All-Defensive team honors. Savannah Kruse, a junior forward, averaged 12.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year while leading the team with 31 three-pointers. Maria Cline and Lexie Black also return and combined for 32 starts last season. Kaylee Pedigo, a junior post player, and Megan Lindzy, a freshman swing, will play key roles for the team.

Finishing 9th on the poll was MacMurray College with 21 points. Head Coach Chad Harmon will be one of the younger teams in the league with just two starters returning and no seniors. They will have to overcome the unexpected loss of SLIAC Newcomer of the Year Chassidy Hays but have 15 newcomers to the program to choose from for minutes. Alexis Doyle is the leading returning scorer at 10.0 points per game while Haley Icenogle (6.2 ppg) is the other returning starter for the Highlanders. Among the new faces to program to keep an eye on are Abby Stotler, Leah Turner, and Alaina Vance.

Principia College received 9 points to come in 10th on the poll. The Panthers restarted their program last season after two seasons without one. Head Coach Dory Smith brings the Panthers back to SLIAC play with Sophia Hathaway and Nikki Matters leading the way on the court. Hathaway averaged 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last season and is the team's top post presence. Matters is an athletic junior guard that averaged 19.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season. They are joined by a pair of freshman in Madie Leslie and Georgia Rather that will see plenty of action.