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Shepherd Women Picked Sixth in MEC Preseason Poll

11/3/2015 4:49:00 PM

Courtesy of Adam Zundell MEC Senior Associate Commissioner of Communications

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Shepherd University has been picked to finish sixth in the MEC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll after a vote conducted by the league's coaches.  West Liberty has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2016 title.

West Liberty finished atop the poll with 114 points and seven first-place votes. The Hilltoppers earned a share of the MEC regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago, and bring back starters Kailee Howe, Liz Flowers, Kierra Simpson and Emily Bucon. WLU is ranked 12th in the D2Bulletin.com preseason poll. 

Charleston, which also earned a share of the MEC regular season title last year, was picked to finish second with 107 points and three-first place votes. The Golden Eagles return Chyress Lockhart, who missed last season with an injury, to go with returners Kiara Johnson and Monet Saunders. 

Wheeling Jesuit was picked to finish third with 93 points, just ahead of Notre Dame with 93. The Falcons, who secured the remaining two first-place votes, return the MEC Player of the Year in Martha Nagbe. 

Fairmont State was picked fifth (85), followed by Shepherd in sixth (68). The Rams, led by 2015 MEC Coach of the Year Jenna Eckleberry, earned a share of the MEC regular season championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. UVa-Wise was tabbed seventh (55) and Glenville State was slotted eighth (53). Concord (38), West Virginia State (37), West Virginia Wesleyan (32) and Urbana (14) rounded out the poll.

The poll was released on Tuesday at the Mountain East Conference Media Day at the Bridgeport Conference Center.

The women's basketball season begins on Friday, Nov. 13. 
 
Mountain East Conference
Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rk.TeamPoints
1.West Liberty (7)114
2.Charleston (3)107
3.Wheeling Jesuit96
4.Notre Dame (2)93
5.Fairmont State85
6.Shepherd68
7.UVa-Wise55
8.Glenville State53
9.Concord38
10.West Virginia State37
11.West Virginia Wesleyan32
12.Urbana14







2014-15 All-MEC Players Returning
Jaila Bryant (WJU) -- All-MEC First Team
Liz Flowers (WLU)-- All-MEC First Team
Blair Harding (UVa-Wise)-- All-MEC First Team
Kailee Howe (WLU) -- All-MEC First Team
Martha Nagbe (NDC) -- MEC Player of the Year, All-MEC First Team
Breanna Butler (WJU) -- All-MEC Second Team
Cara Mason (SU) -- All-MEC Second Team
Monet Saunders (UC) -- All-MEC Second Team
Kennedy Boggs (UU) -- All-MEC Honorable Mention
Shealyn Shafer (WVSU) -- All-MEC Honorable Mention
Kierra Simpson (WLU) -- All-MEC Honorable Mention
Mari Stewart (WVWC) -- MEC Freshman of the Year  
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