FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2013
No. 1 Bentley and Adelphi top respective
divisions in conference preseason coaches' poll
SOUTH EASTON, Mass. – Bentley University and Adelphi University placed first in their respective divisions in the 2013-14 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted upon by the league's 15 head coaches.
Bentley (30-2, 21-1 NE-10), which enters the season ranked No. 1 in Division II in the country, received 14 first-place votes and 105 points to take the top spot in the Northeast-10 Northeast Division poll. Last year, the Falcons won their third straight Northeast-10 Championship before falling in the NCAA East Region title game to eventual national finalist Dowling.
Adelphi (15-13, 11-11 NE-10) finished first in the Northeast-10 Southwest Division poll, garnering 10 first-place votes and 88 points in the voting. The Panthers advanced to the Northeast-10 Championship Quarterfinals a year ago, falling to Bentley, 89-80, on the road.
For the complete breakdown of the coaches' poll, please see below.
In the Northeast Division rankings, Stonehill College (24-5, 19-3 NE-10) finished second to Bentley with 92 points and one first-place vote. The Skyhawks, ranked No. 7 nationwide in the WBCA preseason poll, advanced to the NCAA East Region semifinals last winter.
Merrimack College (17-12, 11-11) was selected third in the Northeast Division, a year after upsetting Stonehill in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 Championship, after receiving 71 points in the voting.
Two Northeast-10 teams coming off NCAA East Regional appearances finished fourth and fifth in the Northeast side of the poll, as Franklin Pierce University (18-11, 14-8 NE-10) totaled 60 points and Assumption College (22-8, 17-5 NE-10) received 58 points.
Making up the remainder of the Northeast Division poll was Southern New Hampshire University (12-14, 9-13 NE-10) with 44 points, Saint Michael's College (10-16, 8-14 NE-10) with 26 points and Saint Anselm College (4-22, 1-21 NE-10) with 20 points.
In the Southwest Division poll, American International College (14-13, 11-11 NE-10) finished second to Adelphi with 60 points and one first-place vote, while the University of New Haven (14-13, 13-9 NE-10) and Pace University (14-13, 12-10 NE-10) tied for the third spot with 58 points apiece. Pace also received three first-place votes.
Making up the remainder of the Southwest Division poll was The College of Saint Rose (9-17, 6-16 NE-10) with 53 points and one first-place vote, Southern Connecticut State University (7-18, 4-18 NE-10) with 32 points and Le Moyne College (6-20, 4-18 NE-10) with 22 points.
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
2013-14 Northeast-10 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Northeast Division
1. Bentley (14) – 105
2. Stonehill (1) – 92
3. Merrimack – 71
4. Franklin Pierce – 60
5. Assumption – 58
6. Southern New Hampshire – 44
7. Saint Michael's – 26
8. Saint Anselm – 20
Southwest Division
1. Adelphi (10) – 88
2. American International (1) – 60
T3. New Haven – 58
T3. Pace (3) – 58
5. Saint Rose (1) – 53
6. Southern Connecticut – 32
7. Le Moyne – 22
( ) – indicates first-place votes
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