BOSTON — The Albany Great Danes, winners of four-straight America East titles, are the 2015-16 women's basketball favorites as the conference office revealed the preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday. The preseason coaches’ poll is voted on by the league’s nine head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The Great Danes received six first-place votes and 62 points to come in at the top of the poll. Maine, which tied Albany for the regular-season title last year, came in second with 58 points and two first-place votes. New Hampshire also received a first-place vote and landed in third with 44 total points. Stony Brook followed in fourth, while last year's America East Championship finalist, Hartford, ranked fifth with 39 points. In sixth is UMBC with 34 points, followed by UMass Lowell in seventh (18 points). Vermont (15 points) and Binghamton (14) rounded out the poll in eighth and ninth, respectively.
2015-16 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Albany (6), 62 pts.
2. Maine (2), 58
3. New Hampshire (1), 44
4. Stony Brook, 40
5. Hartford, 39
6. UMBC, 34
7. UMass Lowell, 18
8. Vermont, 15
9. Binghamton, 14
1. Albany Great Danes
2014-15 record: 24-9, 14-2, America East Champion (T-1st)
- The Great Danes are one of just two teams in America East history to win four-straight America East titles, joining Maine from 1995-98.
- Two-time America East Player of the Year, Shereesha Richards, and last year's Sixth Player of the Year, Imani Tate, are both back for Albany as the Great Danes return eight letterwinners and three starters.
- The Great Danes have led the league in scoring margin in each of the past four seasons.
- Albany has won 59 of its last 64 regular-season games vs. America East opponents.
2. Maine Black Bears
2014-15 record: 24-9, 14-2, America East Semifinals (T-1st)
- Maine is coming off its best season since 2003-04, winning 23 games and claiming the America East Co-Regular Season title after going 14-2 in conference play.
- The Black Bears return all five starters from last year's squad, including Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Liz Wood, who ranked in the top-7 of scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and field goal percentage last season.
- Junior guard Sigi Koizar averaged a team-best 14.3 points per game last year, while shooting 32% from 3-point range.
- Maine led the league in scoring defense last year, allowing just 54.5 points per game.
3. New Hampshire Wildcats
2014-15 record: 17-12, 9-7, America East Quarterfinals (4th)
- New Hampshire has been picked thrd in the preseason poll for the second-straight season and returns leading scorer, Elizabeth Belanger, who averaged 15.8 points per game last season.
- The Wildcats return nine letterwinners including three starters from last year's squad.
- Forward Corinne Coia returns after missing the 2014-15 season with a knee injury. She averaged 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Wildcats in 2013-14.
4. Stony Brook Seawolves
2014-15 record: 17-14, 10-6, America East Quarterfinals (3rd)
- Under first-year head coach Caroline McCombs, Stony Brook made its second-straight trip to a postseason tournament, playing in the WBI.
- The Seawolves will have to replace the losses of leading scorer Sabre Proctor (14.3 ppg) and leading rebounder Jessica Ogunnorin (7.6 rpg).
- Point guard Kori Bayne-Walker was one of only two Seawolves to play and start in every game last season. She led the league in assists at 5.3 per game.
- Forward Brittany Snow was second in the conference a year ago, shooting 51.3% from the floor.
5. Hartford Hawks
2014-15 record: 16-17, 8-8, America East Runner-Up (5th)
- The Hawks hit their stride at the right time last year to reach the America East title game for the fourth time in the last six years.
- Head coach Jennifer Rizzotti has over 300 career wins and is the winngest coach in conference tournament history.
- Hartford will turn to Deanna Mayza to lead the team after averaging 11.0 points per game as a sophomore to go with 5.2 assists per game.
6. UMBC Retrievers
2014-15 record: 12-19, 6-10, America East Semifinals (7th)
- UMBC returns a veteran squad that went to the America East semifinals with a thrilling victory over Stony Brook a year ago.
- Head coach Phil Stern returns nine letterwinners and four starters including, Capree Garner, who averaged a team best 16.5 ppg last year.
- Garner along with with Taylor McCarley started all 31 games for the Retrievers in 2014-15.
7. UMass Lowell River Hawks
2014-15 record: 14-15, 7-9, N/A (6th)
- UMass Lowell finished sixth in the conference standings last year, but will have to replace their two top-scorers in Jasmine McRoy (12.4 ppg) and Shannon Samuels (14.1 ppg) who both ranked in the top-15 of the league.
- The River Hawks were the second-highest scoring team in the league last year at 63.7 ppg.
- Second-year head coach Jenerrie Harris has a young team that features just four returning letterwinners and eight newcomers.
- Lindsey Doucette and Melissa Frase will be looked on to lead the squad as both started all 29 games a year ago.
8. Vermont Catamounts
2014-15 record: 5-24, 2-14, America East Quarterfinals (T-8th)
- Vermont returns seven letterwinners including two of their top three scorers in Sydney Smith and Kylie Butler.
- Head coach Lori Gear-McBride has a roster that featured four student-athletes from Canada.
- Smith was third in the conference as a freshman in 3-point field goals made, averaging 2.5 per game.
9. Binghamton Bearcats
2013-14 record: 4-26, 2-14, America East Quarterfinal (T-8th)
- Second-year head coach Linda Cimino returns five letterwinners, including four starters from last year's squad.
- Binghamton will begin the year shorthanded after losing 2014-15 America East Rookie of the Year, Jasmine Sina, to a knee injury.
- Imani Watkins is the team's leading returning scorer, averaging 13.5 points per game as a freshman.
- The Bearcats will host the 2016 America East Championship.