Emmanuel Tops GNAC Women’s Basketball Pre-Season Poll

Emmanuel College leads the 2010-2011 pre-season polls for women’s basketball based on a vote from all GNAC coaches. The Emmanuel Saints are the reigning 2009 GNAC Champions, which sent them to the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Emerson women’s basketball team ranked second trailing the Saints by 11 points.

Rounding off the top eight is Norwich (114), St. Joe’s (97), Suffolk (96), Albertus (94), JWU (80), and Simmons (71).  

1. Emmanuel (143)

2. Emerson (124)

3. Norwich (114)

4. St. Joe’s ME (97)

5. Suffolk (96)                           

6. Albertus (94)

7. JWU (80)

8. Simmons (71)

1. Emmanuel (143)

 Emmanuel tallied a point total of 143 points, only one point away from a perfect score in the poll. The Saints are coming off a 22-6 record and ten straight years of 20+ win seasons. Although the Saints lost three powerful seniors to graduation, Iman Davis, Meredith Shaw and Abby Brenkach; they have a tremendous senior class leading the 2010 campaign. Head Coach Andy Yosinoff will enter his thirty-four season coaching the Saints with a record of 640 wins. Returning for the Saints are senior guards, Kristin LeBel and Casey Shevlin. LeBel was a 1,000 point scorer last season and led the Saints in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. Shevlin started every game as the point guard in 2009-2010, leading the team in assists with 109 and also averaging 7.4 points per game. Newcomer and junior transfer, Meghan Kirwan, will add experience to the Saints, who transferred after playing Division II basketball at UMass-Lowell. Junior guard Breanna Ockimey will assist in the backcourt for the Saints and senior Pamela Mobley will provide force in under the boards for Emmanuel.

2. Emerson (124)

Coming off of a 3^rd place finish last season, the Lions look to continue to be a top team again in the 2010-2011 season. Last season, Emerson went 13-13. After retiring two top players, the Lions are led by senior Kathy Andrade and sophomore Olivia DiNucci. Andrade finished last season 6^th in the GNAC for field goal percentage (.461) and selected as a third-team GNAC all conference selection. DiNucci was named GNAC Rookie of the Year and second-team all conference after leading Emerson in scoring in 2009 with 14.9 points per game and ranked 3^rd in the GNAC.

3. Norwich (114)  

Norwich embarks on their second season under head coach Mark Zacher, and judging by last year’s tremendous success they will be a contending team. In 2009-2010, the Cadets finished 20-8 overall, losing only two of their thirteen home games and placing 2nd in the GNAC tournament. Despite graduating six seniors and losing 62 percent of their point production and 48 percent of their rebounding, they look to their returners and rookies to be top competitors this season. The Cadets are led by seniors Christine Daniels and Laurel McWilliams and junior Kelsey Knapp.

4. St. Joe’s ME (97)  

St. Joseph’s ME looks to come out strong this season, returning six players from their 12-12 record last season. Head Coach Mike McDevitt returns for his 18^th season, with the program’s most successful coaching record with 338-129. Although graduated two all-conference players, one of who was a 1,000 point scorer, McDevitt will look to the depth of his returning six and the freshmen class. Top returning guards include Casey Drake, Megan McDevitt and Danyelle Shufelt. Senior captain Casey Drake is expected to lead the Monks after averaging 5.3 points and 3.5 assists per game as a junior. McDevitt, a junior guard, will also contribute after posting 10 PPG average and leading the team in three-pointers and free-throw percentage in 2009. Sophomore Shufelt will contribute to the Monks after averaging 5.3 PPG, 40 free throws in her rookie season. Adding to their depth are rookies Mackenzie Dufour, who will see time as a point guard and Skyler Makkinje, a 1^st team all-NH team who just came off a 1,000-point high school career