Emmanuel Tops Women’s Basketball Pre-Season Poll

BOSTON, Mass. – After finishing the 2013-14 campaign with an overall record of 23-6 and winning their seventh consecutive GNAC title, the Emmanuel College women's basketball team earned the top spot in the 2013-14 Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll with a total of 143 points and 11 of 12 first place votes. Suffolk University ranked second with 126 points and the last first place nod while Saint Joseph's College (ME) ranked third with 118 points. Rivier University was also over 100 points, ranking fourth in the poll with 101 points while Albertus Magnus College rounded out the top five with 94 points in fifth place.

Despite graduating the 2013 GNAC Player of the Year in Fiona O'Dwyer, the Saints will look to stay at the top of the conference behind strong low post players in juniors Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) and Lena Negri (Arlington, Va.). Emmanuel has just two seniors on its 2013-14 roster, welcoming in six newcomers for the campaign. Entering his 37^th season at the helm, Head Coach Andy Yosinoff will look to mentor the young Saints back to the top of the GNAC.

Suffolk University hopes to build off of an impressive year in which they posted 23 wins and a 10-2 mark in GNAC play. Reigning GNAC Coach of the Year Ed Leyden lead the Rams to both the GNAC and ECAC tournament finals and will look to coach his squad back to the top of the GNAC standings again this season. The Rams return their top scorer in senior forward Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, Conn.) who averaged 15.8 ppg.

The Saint Joseph's College (ME) Monks return four starters, including 2013 GNAC Rookie of the Year Morgan Cahill (Yarmouth, Maine) and 2013 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Lindsay Moore (Barrington, N.H.), and nine players overall from last year's squad that won 16 games.

Rivier University will bid for one of the top spots in the conference as they welcome back junior guard Deanna Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) who finished second in the GNAC in 2012-13 in points per game (22.6) as well as second in the conference in shooting percentage with a 50.6% clip (196-387).

Rounding out the top five teams was Albertus Magnus College with 94 points. The Falcons have an experienced squad with 10 returners including a veteran senior class.

Johnson & Wales University claimed the No. 6 spot in the poll with 80 points while Norwich University finished in the 7^th spot with 71 points. University of Saint Joseph (CT) was tabbed the No. 8 team with 64 points while Lasell College was 9^th with 53 points.

Simmons College rounds out the top 10 with 35 points while Anna Maria College finished in the 11^th spot with 29 points followed by Mount Ida College who earned the No. 12 ranking with 22 points.

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III conference made up of 12 institutions with nine associate members. In 2013-14, the GNAC will sponsor championships in 17 sports for men and women. The GNAC also enjoys outstanding professional partnerships with Children's Hospital Sports Medicine Division, Doubletree Hotels, Fenway Printers, New Balance, Reading Trophy and Presto Sports.

2013-14 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll