(10-27-09) SOUTH EASTON, Mass. - After a NE-10 Tournament quarterfinals appearance one season ago, the University of New Haven women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the 2009-10 Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll which was released by the conference office Tuesday.
The Chargers finished 16-13 overall and 10-12 in the NE-10 last season. In their first season competing in the conference, UNH qualified 11th for the 2009-10 NE-10 Tournament and pulled off an upset in the opening round. New Haven has three returning starters and eight returning letterwinners this season.
With 219 points and 11 first place votes, Stonehill is the NE-10 preseason favorites. Bentley received two first place votes and finished second with 206 points, while the 2008-09 national runner-up Franklin Pierce finished third with three first place votes and 201 points. Pace with 172 points and Assumption with 163 points rounded out the top five. Southern New Hampshire, American International and Le Moyne finished the three spots ahead of UNH.
The Chargers open their 2009-10 schedule on Sunday, November 15 when they host Dominican College at Charger Gymnasium.
2009-2010 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Stonehill (11) - 219
2. Bentley (2) - 206
3. Franklin Pierce (3) - 201
4. Pace - 172
5. Assumption - 163
6. Southern New Hampshire - 152
7. American International - 144
8. Le Moyne - 113
9. New Haven - 112
10. Saint Rose - 100
11. Saint Michael's - 91
12. UMass Lowell - 68
13. Merrimack - 57
14. Southern Connecticut - 52
15. Adelphi - 41
16. Saint Anselm - 29
