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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