Indiana State Picked To Finish Third In Valley Preseason Rankings

ST. LOUIS ? The Indiana State women's basketball team was picked to finish third in the annual Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll of head coaches, media representatives and sports information directors during the league's Media Day activities today (Oct. 30).

The Sycamores garnered 289 total points in the poll as they were third behind Drake and Illinois State. The Bulldogs took 24 first place votes to finish with 348 points as they were the league's top preseason pick for the second consecutive season. Illinois State received 12 first place votes to finish with 342 points as they were picked to finish second.

Indiana State was third, just one point ahead of Evansville for fourth place. Defending league champion Southern Illinois was fifth while Creighton, Missouri State, UNI, Wichita State and Bradley rounded out the poll.

The third place prediction is the highest for the Sycamores since the 2005-06 season when they were picked to win the league. ISU did so that season, going a school-record 16-2 in league play, en route to earning the program's first-ever outright MVC Regular Season Championship. Indiana State finished third last year in the final standings.

The Sycamores were 19-11 one year ago with a 12-6 record in league play. ISU returns four starters from one year ago, including senior center Laura Rudolphi, who is one of five Valley athletes to earn preseason all-conference mention.

Joining Rudolphi are Drake's Brandy Dahir, Evansville's Rebekah Parker, Illinois State's Kristi Cirone and Missouri State's Tahnee Balerio.