'Eaters Picked First in Big West Preseason Coaches Poll
October 23, 2019 | Women's Basketball
Big West Release
IRVINE, Calif. - For the first time in program history, the UC Irvine women's basketball team was picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Anteaters received six of the nine possible first-place votes to top the list with 77 points. Three-time defending regular-season champion UC Davis was a close second with 70 points (two first place votes). UC Riverside collected the final first-place nod and came in third with 60 points.
Junior Jordan Sanders was named to the coaches' Preseason All-Big West Team for the second consecutive year. Sanders was a 2018-19 first-team all-conference selection after averaging 20.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She is the top returning scorer in the league and is among the top-five in all of NCAA Division I.
In the Big West Preseason Media Poll, the 'Eaters earned 104 points to finish second behind UC Davis (113). UC Riverside (94) and Hawai'i (82) rounded out the top four.
Sanders and senior Lauren Saiki were both named to the media's preseason all-conference team. Saiki, who garnered honorable mention recognition last year, is coming off a breakout campaign in which she averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
UCI Season Preview
In total, UC Irvine welcomes back 10 players from its 2018-19 squad that went 20-11 and advanced to the Big West Tournament semifinals. It was the third 20-win season in program history, and first since 1984-85.
The 'Eaters also have a strong incoming class comprised of two McDonald's All-American Game nominees and two U-18 Australian national champions.
UCI is less than two weeks away from its season opener as it plays host to San Jose State on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
2019-20 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine (6) - 77
2. UC Davis (2) - 70
3. UC Riverside (1) - 60
4. Hawai'i - 52
5. Cal Poly - 35
6. UC Santa Barbara - 34
7. CSUN - 33
8. Long Beach State - 29
9. Cal State Fullerton - 15
Coaches' Preseason All-Big West Team
Jordan Sanders - UC Irvine
Jannon Otto - UC Riverside
Coco Miller - UC Santa Barbara
Shanaijah Davison - Long Beach State
Marina Ewodo - UC Riverside
Nina Bessolo - UC Davis
2019-20 Big West Preseason Media Poll
1. UC Davis (8) - 113
2. UC Irvine (4) - 104
3. UC Riverside (1) - 94
4. Hawai'i (1) - 82
5. CSUN - 69
6. Long Beach State - 53
7. Cal State Fullerton - 44
8. Cal Poly - 38
9. UC Santa Barbara - 33
Media's Preseason All-Big West Team
Jordan Sanders - UC Irvine
Jannon Otto - UC Riverside
Shanaijah Davison - Long Beach State
Raina Perez - Cal State Fullerton
Lauren Saiki - UC Irvine
Coco Miller - UC Santa Barbara
IRVINE, Calif. - For the first time in program history, the UC Irvine women's basketball team was picked to finish first in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
The Anteaters received six of the nine possible first-place votes to top the list with 77 points. Three-time defending regular-season champion UC Davis was a close second with 70 points (two first place votes). UC Riverside collected the final first-place nod and came in third with 60 points.
Junior Jordan Sanders was named to the coaches' Preseason All-Big West Team for the second consecutive year. Sanders was a 2018-19 first-team all-conference selection after averaging 20.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She is the top returning scorer in the league and is among the top-five in all of NCAA Division I.
In the Big West Preseason Media Poll, the 'Eaters earned 104 points to finish second behind UC Davis (113). UC Riverside (94) and Hawai'i (82) rounded out the top four.
Sanders and senior Lauren Saiki were both named to the media's preseason all-conference team. Saiki, who garnered honorable mention recognition last year, is coming off a breakout campaign in which she averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
UCI Season Preview
In total, UC Irvine welcomes back 10 players from its 2018-19 squad that went 20-11 and advanced to the Big West Tournament semifinals. It was the third 20-win season in program history, and first since 1984-85.
The 'Eaters also have a strong incoming class comprised of two McDonald's All-American Game nominees and two U-18 Australian national champions.
UCI is less than two weeks away from its season opener as it plays host to San Jose State on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.
2019-20 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine (6) - 77
2. UC Davis (2) - 70
3. UC Riverside (1) - 60
4. Hawai'i - 52
5. Cal Poly - 35
6. UC Santa Barbara - 34
7. CSUN - 33
8. Long Beach State - 29
9. Cal State Fullerton - 15
Coaches' Preseason All-Big West Team
Jordan Sanders - UC Irvine
Jannon Otto - UC Riverside
Coco Miller - UC Santa Barbara
Shanaijah Davison - Long Beach State
Marina Ewodo - UC Riverside
Nina Bessolo - UC Davis
2019-20 Big West Preseason Media Poll
1. UC Davis (8) - 113
2. UC Irvine (4) - 104
3. UC Riverside (1) - 94
4. Hawai'i (1) - 82
5. CSUN - 69
6. Long Beach State - 53
7. Cal State Fullerton - 44
8. Cal Poly - 38
9. UC Santa Barbara - 33
Media's Preseason All-Big West Team
Jordan Sanders - UC Irvine
Jannon Otto - UC Riverside
Shanaijah Davison - Long Beach State
Raina Perez - Cal State Fullerton
Lauren Saiki - UC Irvine
Coco Miller - UC Santa Barbara
Players Mentioned
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