BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team was selected to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference, according to a poll taken of the leagues coaches. The preseason poll was released Tuesday at NEC Social Media Day at Barclays Center.
The Blackbirds were picked behind Robert Morris (who received five first place votes), Sacred Heart (four first place votes), St. Francis Brooklyn (one first place vote), Wagner, Saint Francis U., Bryant and Mount St. Mary's. Rounding out the poll were Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut State, who tied for ninth place.
LIU returns one starter and eight letter winners from the 2013-14 team. The young squad has just two seniors (Ashley Brown and Letava Whippy), and seven newcomers. Juniors Sophie Bhasin and Jahmia Phillips, sophomores Mercedes Harris, Brianna Farris, Shanovia Dove and Demi Tomlinson will be joined by three JuCo transfers and four true freshman. Jolanna Ford, Shanice Vaughn and Angelia Allen round out the upperclassmen, while Paris Jones, Drew Winter, DeAngelique Waithe and Stylz Sanders make up a promising freshman class. The Blackbirds will look to improve on last year's eighth place finish in the NEC, and the team's 9-21 overall record
The Preseason All-NEC Team features five players from five teams picked to finish in spots two through six. Bryant's Jenniqua Bailey, Saint Francis' Alexa Hayward, Wagner's Jasmine Nwajei, St. Francis Brooklyn's Eilidh Simpson and Sacred Heart's Gabrielle Washington were singled out by the conference coaches for their preseason potential.
The Blackbirds will open their season Sunday, Nov. 16 on the road, as LIU will travel to Orono, Maine, to take on the University of Maine. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
2014-15 NEC WBB Preseason Poll
1. Robert Morris (5)
2. Sacred Heart (4)
3. St. Francis Brooklyn (1)
4. Wagner
5. Saint Francis U
6. Bryant
7. Mount St. Mary's
8. LIU Brooklyn
9. (tie) Central Connecticut
Fairleigh Dickinson
2014-15 Preseason All-NEC Women's Basketball
Jenniqua Bailey - Bryant
Alexa Hayward - Saint Francis U
Jasmine Nwajei - Wagner
Eilidh Simpson - St. Francis Brooklyn
Gabrielle Washington - Sacred Heart