EDISON, NJ -  The Monmouth University women's basketball team was selected to finish fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced tonight. In addition, senior guard Sierra Green (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis/Monroe CC) was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team and sophomore Lucy Thomas (Ocean, NJ/St. Rose) was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team.
 
"It's an honor to have two players selected to the All-MAAC Preseason Team," said Monmouth head coach Jody Craig. "This is another step for our program, and I anticipate both Sierra and Lucy to be major contributors to our success this season. After being picked seventh last year and finishing fourth, we will once again set out to prove people wrong."
 
Monmouth registered its highest MAAC finish last season, ending in fourth and securing a first round bye. The Hawks went 9-9 in conference play before defeating #5 Canisius in the MAAC Quarterfinals, 64-53. The team advanced to its first MAAC semifinal since 2015-16.
 
In her first season in West Long Branch, Green broke the program record for three-pointers in a single season with 98. She led the team with 13.4 points per game and 22 games in double-figures. In a win over Manhattan, she scored 28 points, which were the most in a single game since 2009. In the comeback win over Navy, Green drilled eight three-pointers, matching a program record for most in a single game. At the end of the year, she was named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
 
As a true freshman last year, Thomas averaged 9.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. The Ocean, NJ native recorded four double-doubles in the first 16 games of the season. Thomas scored a season-high 21 points at Saint Peter's, and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds twice. At the end of the year, she was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
 
The Hawks open the 2019-20 season at Bucknell on Saturday, November 9. Their first home game will be 11 days later against Providence.
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Stella Johnson – Rider
 

Preseason All-MAAC Teams
Player	Selection	Institution
Stella Johnson *	First Team	Rider
Alana Gilmer *	First Team	Marist
Rebekah Hand	First Team	Marist
Jai Moore	First Team	Niagara
Sierra Green	First Team	Monmouth
Courtney Warley	First Team	Manhattan
Grace Vander Weide	Second Team	Marist
Amari Johnson	Second Team	Rider
D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks	Second Team	Canisius
Taylor Herd	Second Team	Quinnipiac
Lou Lopez-Senechal	Second Team	Fairfield
Gabby Cajou	Third Team	Manhattan
Lucy Thomas	Third Team	Monmouth
Shaq Edwards	Third Team	Quinnipiac
Lea Favre	Third Team	Rider
Juana Camilion	Third Team	Iona
Paige Warfel	Third Team	Quinnipiac

* = Unanimous selection
 

Preseason Coaches' Poll
Marist (9)	119
Quinnipiac (2)	104
Rider	103
Manhattan	85
Monmouth	74
Fairfield	60
Niagara	53
Canisius	47
Iona	35
Siena	33
Saint Peter's	13