BOSTON – Following the program’s first conference championship since 2010, Vermont has been selected first in the 2023-24 America East Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll. The Catamounts also had a pair Preseason All-Conference Selections for the second straight year.
The season tips off in less than three weeks as UVM took first place in the poll with 63 points and seven first place votes after going 14-2 in conference play and earning a share of the regular season championship. Vermont returns all of its five starters from a season ago, including three All-Conference selections in Emma Utterback, Anna Olson and Delaney Richason.
Maine received the remaining two first place votes and was second in the poll with 58 points. The Black Bears bring back reigning Player of the Year Adrianna Smith, along with 2021-22 Player of the Year Anne Simon. UAlbany, which shared the 2022-23 regular season title with Vermont, took third with 48 points while Binghamton (39) and NJIT (38) rounded out the top five in the poll for a second-straight season.
Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
| School |
Points (1st Place) |
| 1. Vermont |
63 (7) |
| 2. Maine |
58 (2) |
| 3. UAlbany |
48 |
| 4. Binghamton |
39 |
| 5. NJIT |
38 |
| 6. UMBC |
32 |
| 7. Bryant |
18 |
| 8. New Hampshire |
17 |
| 9. UMass Lowell |
11 |
This year’s Preseason All-Conference team features six players who have all previously earned First-Team All-Conference honors and four were first-team selections last season. Anna Olson, Emma Utterback, Adrianna Smith and UAlbany’s Kayla Cooper were all First-Team All-Conference selections last season, while Anne Simon and Denai Bowman were Second-Team honorees in 2022-23 but on the First Team in 2021-22.
Women’s #AEHOOPS Preseason All-Conference Team
Denai Bowman, Binghamton – Gr., Guard
- Two-time First-Team All-Conference
- 2022-23 Second-Team All-Conference
- Two-time All-Defensive Team selection
- Career averages: 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.6 steals per game.
Kayla Cooper, UAlbany – Sr., Guard
- 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference
- Ranked 3rd in the conference in scoring (15.2) and 4th in rebounding (8.3)
- 2021-22 Second-Team All-Conference
- Career averages: 11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game
Anna Olson, Vermont – Sr., Forward
- 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference
- Averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assist per game while shooting .511 from the floor.
- 2021-22 Second-Team All-Conference & 2020-21 Rookie of the Year
- Career averages: 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks per game
Anne Simon, Maine – Gr., Guard
- Four-time All-Conference selection
- Averaged 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game
- 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year
- Career averages: 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds 2.1 assists, 2.0 steals per game
Adrianna Smith, Maine – Jr., Forward
- 2022-23 America East Player of the Year
- 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference
- Led #AEHoops in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.5)
- Averaged 23.5 points and 10.8 rebounds in 16 conference games.
Emma Utterback, Vermont – Gr., Guard
- Two-time First-Team All-Conference
- Averaged 14.0 points 4.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game
- 2022-23 #AEHoops Championship Most Outstanding Player
- Career averages: 12.8 points, 3.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game
The preseason poll and preseason all-conference team were voted on by the league’s nine head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The 2023-24 season begins on November 6 with conference play starting on Jan. 4. Conference positioning will again prove key for the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs. Every round of the Jersey Mikes #AEPlayoffs will take place on the higher seed’s home court and earning home court advantage will prove crucial once again. Full Composite Schedule
The league champion will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship, where America East teams have won five games all time. Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally.
Follow the @AEHoopsNews X (FormerlyTwitter( account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long.
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