IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine was picked to finish eighth in both the Big West Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' and Media Poll the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.
In the coaches' poll, the Anteaters collected 17 points to finish ahead of Cal State Fullerton (10). Long Beach State was tabbed the preseason favorite as it received five first-place votes and 73 total points. UC Davis was second with 61 points, and was followed by UC Riverside (56), UC Santa Barbara (52), Hawai'i (48) and CSUN (46), all of which nabbed one first-place nod. Cal Poly wasn't far behind the Matadors with 42 points.
LBSU also topped the preseason media poll with nine first-place votes and 157 points. UCR was right on the 49ers' heels with 154 points, while Hawai'i (127), UC Davis (113) and CSUN (103) rounded out the top five.
In addition, Raven Benton (LBSU), Morgan Bertsch (UCD), Channon Fluker (CSUN), Hannah Gilbert (CP), Dynn Leaupepe (CP) and Rejane Verin (UCR) were named to the six-member preseason all-conference team.
UCI begins its first year under head coach Tamara Inoue in 2016-17. Inoue inherits a group of eight letterwinners, including a strong core of five seniors – Mckenzie Piper, Shereen Sutherland, Irene Chavez, Chloe Kellum and Brittany Glassow. Piper, Sutherland and Chavez were all starters last season and are the 'Eaters top-three returning scorers. UC Irvine also welcomes back sophomore Andee Ritter, who was a 2016 Big West All-Freshman Team selection, junior Teirra Hicks and sophomore Arianna Knox.
Inoue brings in four newcomers with true freshmen Brooke Bayman and Mylah Andrada, and junior transfers Sydney Hua and Sabrina Engelstad, ready to make their Anteater debuts.
UCI opens the season against Saint Louis on Friday, Nov. 11. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
Big West Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Long Beach State (5) – 73
2. UC Davis – 61
3. UC Riverside (1) – 56
4. UC Santa Barbara (1) – 52
5. Hawai'i (1) – 48
6. CSUN (1) – 46
7. Cal Poly – 42
8. UC Irvine – 17
9. Cal State Fullerton – 10
Big West Preseason Media Poll
1. Long Beach State (9) – 157
2. UC Riverside (7) – 154
3. Hawai'i (3) – 127
4. UC Davis (1) – 113
5. CSUN – 103
6. Cal Poly – 97
7. UC Santa Barbara – 89
8. UC Irvine – 34
9. Cal State Fullerton – 26
Preseason All-Conference Team
Raven Benton, Long Beach State
Morgan Bertsch, UC Davis
Channon Fluker, CSUN
Hannah Gilbert, Cal Poly
Dynn Leaupepe, Cal Poly
Rejane Verin, UC Riverside
