Women's Basketball

Women’s #AEHoops Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference Released

BOSTON – After clinching the program’s first #AEHoops Championship since 2019, Maine was selected first in the 2024-25 America East Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as the Black Bears return numerous starters from last season’s team.
 
The season tips off in just two weeks and Maine captured five first place votes and 60 total points after going 24-10 and 14-2 in league play. This includes an 11-0 mark against #AEHoops teams at home. The Black Bears return three starters this season in Caroline Bornemann, Sarah Talon and Olivia Rockwood. Senior Adrianna Smith, the 2022-23 Player of the Year, was injured earlier this month and will miss the entire season due to the injury.
 
UAlbany (25-7) was close behind in second with 56 points and the remaining three first place votes. The Great Danes have won at least 13 conference games each of the past three seasons and they’re led by two-time First-Team All-Conference selection Kayla Cooper. Vermont was picked third with 48 points after going 25-12 and advancing to the WNIT Fab Four. The Catamounts welcome back three-time All-Conference honoree Anna Olson.
 
Bryant was selected fourth with 44 points after going 15-15 with an 8-8 league mark, while Binghamton earned the final first place vote and finished fifth with 38 points. UMass Lowell (26), NJIT (18) and New Hampshire (15) rounded out the final three positions.
 
2024 Women’s #AEHoops Preseason Poll
School Pts (1st)
Maine 60 (5)
UAlbany 56 (3)
Vermont 48
Bryant 44
Binghamton 38 (1)
UMBC 26
UMass Lowell 19
NJIT 18
New Hampshire 15
 
This year’s Preseason All-Conference Team features a trio of former First-Team All-Conference selections, as well as two guards that earned second and third team All-Conference honors last season.
 
Women’s #AEHoops Preseason All-Conference Team
Kayla Cooper, UAlbany – Gr., Guard
  • Fourth in the conference in scoring (15.9 ppg) and second in rebounding (7.3 rpg)
  • Two-Time First Team All-Conference.
  • 2021-22 Second-Team All-Conference.
  • Career averages of 12.6 points 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in 106 contests with 70 starts.
 
Mia Mancini, Bryant – So., Guard
  • Averaged 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game with a league-best 74 three-point field goals.
  • 2023-24 Third-Team All-Conference
  • America East Rookie of the Year.
  • Post five games with 20+ points.
 
Anna Olson, Vermont – Gr., Forward
  • Averaged 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists while shooting a league-best .559 percent from the field.
  • 2022-23 First-Team All-Conference.
  • 2023-24 & 2021-22 Second-Team All-Conference.
  • Career averages of 11.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 106 career contests, with 104 starts.
 
Adrianna Smith, Maine – Sr., Forward
  • 2022-23 #AEHoops Player of the Year.
  • Second in the league averaging 16.4 ppg while ranking 1st in rebounding (10.8) and 1st assists (4.7) per game.
  • Two-Time First-Team All-Conference.
  • Will miss 2024-25 season due to injury.
 
Jadyn Weltz, Binghamton – Jr., Guard
  • Averaged 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, , 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
  • 2023-24 Second-Team All-Conference.
  • One of two players in #AEHoops to average 10 ppg, 4 rpg & 4 apg in 2023-24.
  • Member of 2022-23 All-Defensive Team.
 
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 2024-25 season begins on November 4 with eight teams in action. Conference play starts on January 2 and concludes on March 1. 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.
 
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 (Formerly Twitter) account to stay up-to-date on #AEHoops news all season long. 
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference its social media channels, @AmericaEast. 
 
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