(Indianapolis, Ind.) – The Missouri S&T women’s basketball squad has been picked to finish second behind Drury in the West Division in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll as determined by a vote of the conference’s 15 head coaches the league office announced on Wednesday. The GLVC has moved to a three division format for the first time in league history in the upcoming 2009-10 campaign.
Meanwhile, the Miners were picked to finish in fourth place in the GLVC West in the men's pre-season poll for the season.
The Lady Miners, who finished last season at 16-13 and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament, return a pair of starters and six letterwinners off of last season’s squad received 52 votes and was the only school other than Drury to receive a first place vote in the West Division.
Rounding out the West Division was Missouri-St. Louis in third place with 36 votes followed by Rockhurst (31) and GLVC newcomer Maryville (16).
Indianapolis is the favorite in the East Division receiving 11 first place votes and 63 points. The Greyhounds are followed by Northern Kentucky with 55 points and four first place votes, Bellarmine (37), Southern Indiana (29) and Kentucky Wesleyan (15).
In the North Division Quincy is the favorite to win the division garnering eight first place votes and 58 points. Lewis was tabbed to finish second receiving four first place votes and 52 points while Wisconsin-Parkside was slated for third with three first place votes and 49 points. Saint Joseph’s and the other GLVC newcomer Illinois-Springfield rounded out the North Division in fourth and fifth with 27 and 14 points respectively.
S&T tips off its 2009-10 campaign on November 20 when it hosts Upper Iowa in the Lady Miner Tip-Off Classic beginning at 7 p.m. The Lady Miners begin GLVC play on December 3 at Illinois-Springfield starting at 5:30 p.m.
In the men’s poll, Missouri S&T was picked to finish fourth in the GLVC West behind Rockhurst, Drury and Missouri-St. Louis, with GLVC newcomer Maryville being picked behind S&T in the West division race.
The Miners are coming off a 9-17 season and have high hopes in the upcoming campaign with a mix of returners and several talented newcomers. Missouri S&T will play an exhibition game Tuesday against William Woods at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., its only game prior to its Nov. 16 season opener against Harding at the Bullman Multi-Purpose Building.
Bellarmine, who reached the championship game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional last season, was tabbed as the favorite in the GLVC East ahead of defending league champion Northern Kentucky. Kentucky Wesleyan, Southern Indiana and Indianapolis round out the East division selections.
Quincy narrowly edged Lewis for the top spot in the GLVC North, which was followed by Saint Joseph’s, Wisconsin-Parkside and the other newcomer to the conference, Illinois-Springfield. UIS will be the Miners' first opponent in GLVC play on Dec. 3 in Springfield, Ill.
To see the entire women's poll, click
here; for the men's poll, click
here.