Army West Point Athletics
Women’s Basketball Slated First in Preseason Poll
October 21, 2015 | Women's Basketball
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Army West Point women's basketball team was selected to finish first in the Patriot League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, the league announced Wednesday, while senior guard Kelsey Minato was named the Preseason Player of the Year for the second season in a row.
Army becomes the league's preseason favorite for the second consecutive year after finishing 23-8 overall and 14-4 in the Patriot League last season. The Black Knights earned the league's automatic berth to the WNIT to mark the program's third straight trip to a national postseason tournament.
Army received 155 points and 13 of 20 first-place votes, while Holy Cross (130), Lehigh (127), Bucknell (119) and defending-champion American (111) rounded out the top five. The remaining first-place votes went to Lehigh (3), Holy Cross (2), American (1) and Bucknell (1).
Minato finished her junior campaign with a program-record 22.3 points per game and ranked eighth nationally in scoring at season's end. She earned All-Patriot League first-team honors for the third season in a row and was an All-America honorable mention selection by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, becoming the sixth Army women's basketball player to draw All-America distinction.
A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Minato became Army's career leader in three-pointers (221) last season and set the Academy record for three-pointers made in a single game with eight at Boston University (Jan. 29) and in the Patriot League semifinals against Lehigh (March 9). A two-year team captain, Minato will serve as captain alongside fellow seniors Brianna Johnson, Aimee Oertner and Jean Parker this season.
Minato is joined on the Preseason All-League Team by Bucknell's Claire DeBoer, Loyola's Colleen Marshall, Lehigh's Lexi Martins and Holy Cross' Raquel Scott.
The Black Knights begin their 2015-16 season on Nov. 13 when they host Pepperdine at 7 p.m. Army's Patriot League schedule begins on Dec. 30 with a home contest against Lehigh.
Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point – 155 points (13 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross – 130 (2)
3. Lehigh – 127 (3)
4. Bucknell – 119 (1)
5. American – 111 (1)
6. Navy – 83
7. Colgate – 55
8. Loyola – 47
9. Lafayette – 43
10. Boston University – 30
Preseason All-Patriot League
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point, Sr., G
Raquel Scott, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Lexi Martins, Lehigh, Jr., F
Claire DeBoer, Bucknell, Jr., F
Colleen Marshall, Loyola, Sr., G
Preseason Player of the Year
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point, Sr., G
Army becomes the league's preseason favorite for the second consecutive year after finishing 23-8 overall and 14-4 in the Patriot League last season. The Black Knights earned the league's automatic berth to the WNIT to mark the program's third straight trip to a national postseason tournament.
Army received 155 points and 13 of 20 first-place votes, while Holy Cross (130), Lehigh (127), Bucknell (119) and defending-champion American (111) rounded out the top five. The remaining first-place votes went to Lehigh (3), Holy Cross (2), American (1) and Bucknell (1).
Minato finished her junior campaign with a program-record 22.3 points per game and ranked eighth nationally in scoring at season's end. She earned All-Patriot League first-team honors for the third season in a row and was an All-America honorable mention selection by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, becoming the sixth Army women's basketball player to draw All-America distinction.
A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Minato became Army's career leader in three-pointers (221) last season and set the Academy record for three-pointers made in a single game with eight at Boston University (Jan. 29) and in the Patriot League semifinals against Lehigh (March 9). A two-year team captain, Minato will serve as captain alongside fellow seniors Brianna Johnson, Aimee Oertner and Jean Parker this season.
Minato is joined on the Preseason All-League Team by Bucknell's Claire DeBoer, Loyola's Colleen Marshall, Lehigh's Lexi Martins and Holy Cross' Raquel Scott.
The Black Knights begin their 2015-16 season on Nov. 13 when they host Pepperdine at 7 p.m. Army's Patriot League schedule begins on Dec. 30 with a home contest against Lehigh.
Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Army West Point – 155 points (13 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross – 130 (2)
3. Lehigh – 127 (3)
4. Bucknell – 119 (1)
5. American – 111 (1)
6. Navy – 83
7. Colgate – 55
8. Loyola – 47
9. Lafayette – 43
10. Boston University – 30
Preseason All-Patriot League
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point, Sr., G
Raquel Scott, Holy Cross, Sr., F
Lexi Martins, Lehigh, Jr., F
Claire DeBoer, Bucknell, Jr., F
Colleen Marshall, Loyola, Sr., G
Preseason Player of the Year
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point, Sr., G
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward/Center
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketballvs. Wagner
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