Maine Deemed Unanimous Women's #AEHoops Favorites; Millan Headlines Preseason All-Conference Team
BOSTON – Tipoff for the 2019-20 America East women’s basketball season is just under three weeks away and projections for the season were revealed by the conference office on Wednesday. The defending champion Maine Black Bears were picked unanimously to finish first in the league and five former All-America East selections were named to the preseason all-conference team. The poll and all-conference team were voted on by the league’s nine head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The 2018-19 season was bookended by the Black Bears’ second consecutive #AEHoops title. With 64 points and eight first-place votes, they were chosen unanimously as favorites for the second time in as many years. Stony Brook, after finishing third in the standings a season ago was picked second with 55 points followed by UAlbany and Binghamton completing the top-four spots in the preseason poll. The top-four teams in the standings will again earn the right to host quarterfinal games in the #AEPlayoffs in March under the high-seed format.
The preseason all-conference team is composed of three seniors and a pair of juniors representing five programs. Reigning Player of the Year and Defensive Player Blanca Millan headlines the squad.
2019-20 America East Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Maine 64 (8) – unanimous
2. Stony Brook 55
3. UAlbany 52 (1)
4. Binghamton 41
5. Hartford 32
6. Vermont 29
7. New Hampshire 23
8. UMBC 16
9. UMass Lowell 12
2019-20 America East Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Blanca Millan, Sr., Guard – Maine
Kai Moon, Sr., Guard – Binghamton
Hanna Crymble, Sr., Forward – Vermont
India Pagan, Jr., Forward – Stony Brook
Kyara Frames, Jr., Guard – UAlbany
Twelve student-athletes who earned All-Conference, All-Defensive or All-Rookie honors in previous years will take the floor again in 2019-20.
The season tips off on Nov. 5 with conference play beginning Jan. 2. The season culminates with the #AEPlayoffs hosted by high seeds. In its second year under the new format, the postseason begins with quarterfinals on March 4 followed by the semifinals on March 8 and the championship game March 13 on ESPNU. View the full 2019-20 women's #AEHoops schedule.
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN. The majority of games will air on ESPN+ or ESPN3.
Follow the @AEHoopsNews Twitter account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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