AMERICA EAST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
HARTFORD, CONN. - The University of Hartford women's basketball team was picked to finish second overall by a vote of head coaches, while senior Jackie Smith was selected to the preseason All-Conference team on Thursday. The Hawks are coming off of the first ever undefeated conference season in school history and a 27-5 overall record.
The preseason poll, which was announced at the 2010 America East Basketball Media Day on Thursday at the Connecticut State Capital, was highlighted by the Boston University Terriers, who were the unanimous first place choice. The Terriers return all five starters from a squad that finished third overall in 2009-10 and hosted a postseason WNIT game.
The Hartford women broke ground last year when they scored the program's first ever national rankings, as high as 19 in the ESPN Coaches Poll, and earned the first ever at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks 27-5 overall record also included a school record 20-game win streak.
Smith is one of two starters returning to the hardwood for Hartford, joined by 2010 All-Rookie pick Ruthanne Doherty. Smith returns after averaging 6.5 points-per-game and a team-best 3.2 assists-per-game. She will be looking to lead an offense that led the conference in scoring margin, averaging 11.8 points more than their opponents.
Doherty will be looked on to increase her role in the post following the loss of the America East Player of the Year Diana Delva and the Defensive Player of the Year Erica Beverly. Delva and Beverly combined to provide 40 percent of the Hawks scoring last season.
Doherty earned a role in the starting five against Coppin State, the game which began the 20-game win streak. She finished the season averaging 6.0 ppg and 4.8 rebounds-per-game, while she was second on the team in field goal percentage, making 48 percent of her shots (86-of-179).
Senior Mary Silvia and rookies Daphne Elliott and Alex Hall will all be looked on to increase their roles after playing key parts off the bench in 2009-10. Elliott finished as the fourth-leading scorer on the team, averaging 6.0 ppg, while leading the team with 41 steals. The three combined to knock down 85 three pointers, more than half the team's total.
Three newcomers will look to continue the winning tradition at Hartford. Taylor Clark (Sayre, Pa./Athens Area High School), Alyssa Englert (Dansville N.Y./Wayland Cohocton Central School) and Milana Gilbert (Smyrna, Del./Academy of the New Church) will look to make their mark on a team that has made five-straight postseason appearances, including three in the NCAA Tournament.
The University of Hartford will host the 2011 America East Men's and Women's Basketball Championship at the Chase Family Arena at the Reich Family Pavilion in March for the second-straight year. The championship event in West Hartford, which begins on March 3, will feature the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals for both the men and women, while the championship game for each will be held at the home court of the highest remaining team.
