NEW YORK – The Big East women’s basketball coaches have cast their preseason ballots and the results are in.
Coming off its fourth Big East Tournament title in the last six seasons, DePaul was unanimously selected as the Big East women’s basketball preseason favorite.
The Blue Demons earn all nine first-place votes and 81 points. St. John’s was picked second in the poll with 70 points and garnered the remaining first-place vote, followed by rival Seton Hall in third with 58 points. Creighton rounded out the top four with 50 points.
After trips to the WNIT, Providence and Villanova tied for fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 44 points apiece. On the heels of its most successful season as a member of the BIG EAST, Butler was slotted seventh with 43 points. A pair of teams under the direction of new head coaches follows as Xavier was picked eighth with 23 points and Marquette was tabbed ninth with 19 points. Georgetown rounded out the poll in 10th with 18 points.
Meanwhile, Seton Hall senior forward Shadeen Samuels was selected the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. Samuels won the league’s scoring title in 2018-19, averaging 20.2 points over 17 conference games. She ranked seventh in rebounding with 8.1 boards per game, while posting five double-doubles in league play. On the year, Samuels averaged a conference-high 18.3 points over 29 games, along with the fourth-highest rebounding average (8.6). She reached the 20-point mark 10 times and the 30-point threshold twice.
Seton Hall and Marquette each had an additional player voted to the preseason team. Junior guard/forward Desiree Elmore represented the Pirates on the squad after averaging 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and .534 shooting in 18 conference games in 2018-19. Marquette’s top returning scorer, junior guard Selena Lott, earned a spot on after starting 15 league contests a year ago and averaging 9.0 points.
DePaul and St. John’s each placed two players. Reigning Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player Chante Stonewall was joined by fellow Blue Demon Kelly Campbell. Stonewall led DePaul to its fourth Big East title in the last six seasons and its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Campbell, a New Jersey native, was the lone active league player with a triple-double to her credit, is one the top all-around players in the league.
One of four unanimous selections, St. John’s redshirt-junior guard Tiana England was the league assists leader in 2018-19, reaching the 10-dime mark three times and averaging 5.7 dishes over 31 appearances. St. John’s overall leading scorer, junior guard Qadashah Hoppie (11.6 ppg), also garnered a spot on the team too.
An All-Big East Second Team selection a year ago, Villanova senior forward Mary Gedaka was unanimously selected to the preseason team. Reigning Big East Freshman of the Year Mary Baskerville of Providence was also unanimously selected. Rounding out the team’s unanimous selections was Xavier junior forward A’riana Gray.
Butler and Creighton each had representatives on the preseason team. Senior guard Kristen Spolyar was recognized for the Bulldogs. Spolyar is Butler’s top returning scorer. Senior forward Jaylyn Agnew is Creighton’s top returner after averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds over 18 league contests.
