WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference's (MAAC) Women's Basketball Head Coaches have picked the Monmouth University women's basketball team to finish ninth in the league this season, while senior guard
Sarah Olson was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team. The announcement was made on ESPN3 during the 2015-16 MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Preseason Awards Show Wednesday night. The Hawks' position in the preseason poll mirrors Monmouth's seeding in the 2015 MAAC Championships.
The MAAC's coaches selected Fairfield as the favorite to win the 2016 league championship with five first-place votes and 113 points, while perennial MAAC power Marist lined up second with three first-place votes and 103 points. 2015 MAAC Champion Quinnipiac was selected third with two first-place votes and 100 points, while Iona secured the final first-place vote and 95 points to take the fourth position in the poll. Siena was picked fifth with 78 points, before a drop off to Canisius with 51 points and the sixth position. Manhattan and Saint Peter's each garnered 41 points to tie for the seventh-place position, while the Hawks took 36 points and the ninth slot, a point ahead of Niagara (35 points) for 10th. Rider rounded out the poll in 11th with 33 points.
Olson headlines a group of 10 returning letter winners from last season's Monmouth team, including four starters. She led the Hawks with 11.5 points per game, while also shooting a team-best 35.4 percent (70-198) from long range, good for 12th in the MAAC. Her 2.5 three-point field goals made per game also ranked fourth in the league. Olson hit seven three-point field goals against Siena (Jan. 22), the second-most three-point field goals made in program history, to finish with a career-high 27 points. On the season, she connected on four or more three-point field goals eight times, including five instances of five or more. Olson scored in double figures a team-best 15 times.
The Hawks open the 2015-16 campaign on Friday, Nov. 13, when they travel to Lehigh. Opening tip from Stabler Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
2015-16 MAAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| |
TEAM |
PTS |
| 1. |
Fairfield (5) |
113 |
| 2. |
Marist (3) |
103 |
| 3. |
Quinnipiac (2) |
100 |
| 4. |
Iona (1) |
95 |
| 5. |
Siena |
78 |
| 6. |
Canisius |
51 |
| 7. |
Manhattan |
41 |
| |
Saint Peter's |
41 |
| 9. |
Monmouth |
36 |
| 10. |
Niagara |
35 |
| 11. |
Rider |
33 |
* First Place Votes In Parentheses
2015-16 Preseason All-MAAC Teams
| FIRST TEAM |
| Casey Smith, Fairfield |
| Joy Adams, Iona* |
| Sydney Coffey, Marist |
| Tori Jarosz, Marist |
| Victoria Rampado, Niagara |
| |
| SECOND TEAM |
| Kristin Schatzlein, Fairfield |
| Aaliyah Robinson, Iona |
| Robin Perkins, Rider |
| Sajanna Bethea, Saint Peter's |
| Meghan Donohue, Siena |
| Margot Hetzke, Siena |
| |
| THIRD TEAM |
| Tiahana Mills, Canisius |
| Marina Lizarazu, Iona |
| Shayna Ericksen, Manhattan |
| Sarah Olson, Monmouth |
| Maria Napolitano, Quinnipiac |
| |
| PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR |
| Joy Adams, Iona |
* Unanimous Selection
