Thursday, October 18, 2012

Kangaroo Women Picked Second In Summit League Preseason Poll; O'Connor and Nezianya Named To First Team

The Kansas City women's basketball team was picked to finish second in The Summit League this season in a vote by the league head coaches, SID's and media, the league announced today, while senior forward Kim Nezianya and junior guard Eilise O'Connor were each selected to the Preseason First Team All-Summit League.
"We're excited by the respect that the other members of the league have given us based on our finish last season," Kansas City head coach Marsha Frese said.  "We also understand and embrace the fact that we are a very different team this year and have to continue to work hard in the months to come to live up to those expectations."
The Kangaroos garnered 260 total votes and one first place vote after posting a 22-12 record a season ago and falling to preseason favorite South Dakota State in the championship game of The Summit League Tournament.
After capturing its record fourth-straight tournament title and third regular season title in five years, the Jackrabbits collected 22 first-place votes and 330 total votes, while Oakland's Bethany Watterworth was selected as the preseason Player of the Year.
Oakland, North Dakota State and IUPUI were separated by just 21 points for the third through fifth slots with the Jaguars claiming one first-place tally. South Dakota edged out Western Illinois for sixth place while Fort Wayne and league newcomer Omaha rounded out the poll. The Mastodons collected the final first-place vote.
Kansas City teammates Kim Nezianya, an all-tournament team honoree, and Eilise O'Connor, and Honorable Mention All-League selection, represent the only teammates on the First Team after helping the Kangaroos to just their second appearance all-time in the championship game last year.
"Eilise and Kim are certainly very deserving of any honors they receive, but I know both of them are more focused on the team success over any accolades that might come their way," Frese said.  "They are both extremely hard working and have taken a very active role in leading our underclassmen and new players this season."
Watterworth, an all-league first team selection each of the last two years and second team honoree as a freshman in 2010, was the preseason selection for Player of the Year after scoring a team-high 18.7 points and grabbing 5.4 rebounds per game. The forward/center heads into the season ranked 14th in league history in career scoring (1,502 points) and leads an Oakland squad that returns three starters for head coach Beckie Francis.
An all-league first teamer last season, IUPUI's Kerah Nelson captured a spot on the preseason first team, while North Dakota State's Katie Birkel and South Dakota State's Ashley Eide also earned the distinction.
The second team is highlighted by returning Newcomer of the Year Saule Kontautaite of Western Illinois. She is accompanied by North Dakota State's Janae Burich, a second team all-league selection, IUPUI's Katie Comello, Oakland's Zakiya Minifee and Omaha's Paige Frauendorfer.
The Summit League concluded a record-setting season a year ago finishing the year ranked No. 19 in the College Basketball News RPI, peaking as high as No. 11 midseason. The league sent a record four teams to postseason tournaments and set a new women's league tournament attendance record.
The regular season begins Nov. 9, with the 16-game, double round-robin league schedule starting Dec. 28. The 2013 Summit League Women's Basketball Championship will be March 9-12 at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, S.D. All tournament quarterfinal and semifinal games will air nationally on Fox College Sports with ESPNU broadcasting the championship game March 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The Blue & Gold will be in action starting on Nov. 3, at home in an exhibition against Rockhurst at 4 p.m., while the regular season gets underway on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. against Missouri Western State in the SRC.
2012-13 Summit League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

1) South Dakota State
2) UMKC
3) Oakland
4) North Dakota State
5) IUPUI
6) South Dakota
7) Western Illinois
8) Fort Wayne
9) Omaha

Preseason All-League Teams
Preseason Player of the Year: Bethany Watterworth, Oakland

First Team
Katie Birkel, G                    North Dakota State
Ashley Eide, G                    South Dakota State
Kerah Nelson, F                 IUPUI
Kim Nezianya, F                 UMKC
Eilise O'Connor, G              UMKC
Bethany Watterworth, F/C  Oakland

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