Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany has been picked to finish ninth in the 2009-10 America East Conference women's basketball preseason poll, according to a vote of the league's head coaches as announced on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Vermont, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament before dropping a first-round match to top-ranked Connecticut, was narrowly picked to win the league title, accumulating 61 points and five first-place votes. The Catamounts most notably return senior guard Courtnay Pilypaitis, the most outstanding player of last season's conference championship and the league's 2007-08 player of the year as a sophomore. Senior guard May Kotsopoulos is also a returning all-conference performer.
Hartford, one of two America East schools to make a postseason appearance in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) last season, was picked second with 60 points and received the remaining four first-place votes. The Hawks bring back three all-conference selections in senior forward Erica Beverly, senior center Diana Delva and sophomore guard Ilicia Mathis.
Binghamton was selected third with 45 points, while New Hampshire and Boston University tied for fourth with 38 points apiece. UMBC (35), Stony Brook (23), Maine (13) and UAlbany (11) rounded out the voting.
In 2008-09, UAlbany won three of its final six games to close out the season after a slow start. UAlbany defeated Maine by a convincing 63-43 margin in the first round of the America East Championship before suffering a tough 77-75 overtime loss to top-seeded Boston University in the quarterfinal round. The team's schedule featured a program-record 11 contests against clubs which advanced to either NCAA or WNIT post-season play.
Senior guard Charity Iromuanya and sophomore forward Tabitha Makopondo highlight the list of seven returning letterwinners. Head coach Trina Patterson also has four active freshmen and two transfers on the roster who are expected to step in and contribute immediately. UAlbany begins its 2009-10 season at Fordham on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.
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America East Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Vermont (5) 61; 2. Hartford (4) 60; 3. Binghamton 45; t4. New Hampshire 38; t4. Boston U. 38; 6. UMBC 35; 7. Stony Brook 23; 8. Maine 13; 9. Albany 11. ( ) - first-place votes
America East Conference Preseason Women's Basketball All-Conference Team
Erica Beverly, (Hartford), Courtnay Pilypaitis (Vermont), Carlee Cassidy, (UMBC), Diana Delva, (Hartford), May Kotsopoulos, (Vermont).
