MANSFIELD, Mass. – The Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball team was selected to finish fourth in the Northeast Division standings this season, as the league coaches voted in the NE10 Preseason Coaches' Poll that was announced Friday.
The Penmen totaled 49 points, while Stonehill College was a near-unanimous selection to win the Northeast Division, as it received 12 of a possible 13 first-place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team) and 89 points. Bentley University, which earned the remaining two first-place votes and 76 points, finished second. Saint Anselm College placed third with 66 points. Assumption University finished behind SNHU with 40 points, edging Franklin Pierce University (39) for sixth place. Saint Michael's College (26) rounded out the poll.
Adelphi University was chosen atop the Southwest Division with 77 points and six first-place votes, narrowly beating out the University of New Haven, which finished with 76 points and four first-place votes. Southern Connecticut State University (56) placed third, just ahead of Le Moyne College (55 points; 2 first-place votes) and Pace University (54 points; 2 first-place votes). American International College (46) and the College of Saint Rose (21) finished off the poll.
Head coach Karen Pinkos, who enters her 17th season at the helm, welcomes back eight returners, including her second-, third- and fourth-leading scorers from the 2019-20 campaign. Graduate student guard Gyanna Russell (E. Hampton, Conn.) leads the way at 11.1 points per game, on 44.1 percent shooting from the field and 77.7 percent from the line. She also averaged 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest. Junior guard Adriana Timberlake (Braintree, Mass.) is also back after averaging 9.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, including 37.6 percent from behind the arc, and 71.1 percent at the stripe. Grad student guard Karlee Ziliak (Evansville, Ind.) will put on the Penmen uniform one more time. In 19-20, she tallied up 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per contest, with a shooting slash line of .426/.372/.767.
The Penmen tip off their season at the Caldwell University tournament on Saturday, Nov. 13 (12 p.m.) when they take on the University of Bridgeport. SNHU also plays the University of the District of Columbia on Sunday (Nov. 14) at noon. The first home contest for SNHU will be Wednesday, Nov. 17 (5:30 p.m.) when it hosts Assumption University at the Stan Spirou Field House.
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2021-22 NE10 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Northeast Division
1) Stonehill – 89 (12)
2) Bentley – 76 (2)
3) Saint Anselm – 66
4) Southern New Hampshire – 49
5) Assumption – 40
6) Franklin Pierce – 39
7) Saint Michael's - 26
Southwest Division
1) Adelphi – 77 (6)
2) New Haven – 76 (4)
3) Southern Connecticut – 56
4) Le Moyne – 55 (2)
5) Pace – 54 (2)
6) American International – 46
7) Saint Rose - 21
(#) indicates number of first-place votes
