BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Northeast Conference announced its women's basketball preseason poll on Wednesday morning at the seventh annual NEC Social Media Day at the Barclay's Center. The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team was selected to finish seventh overall by the league's head coaches.
Robert Morris was selected as the league's preseason favorite with five of the 10 first-place votes. Defending champion Saint Francis U was pegged right behind its keystone state counterpart with two first-place votes. Sacred Heart rounded out the top-three with three-first place votes.
Bryant was picked fourth followed by St. Francis Brooklyn and Mount St. Mary's who tied in the fifth spot. LIU was selected seventh followed by CCSU, Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner rounded out the the poll.
The Blackbirds reached double-digit wins a year ago with a 13-18 mark and 8-10 record in NEC play. Last year, LIU reached the NEC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2010.
Featuring 11 underclassmen on this season's roster, the Blackbirds will look to replace the production of four of their top-five scorers. Sophomore Jeydah Johnson leads the charge for the seven returning letter winners after averaging 12.0 points per game last season. LIU welcomes in six newcomers to the fold in Camille Gray, Tiya Misir, Shyla Sanford, Brandy Thomas and Ryan Weise to backcourt alongside forward Kiara Bell.
LIU opens the season on Tuesday, November 6 with a 5:00 p.m. first-tip at Manhattan College. The home-opener for the Blackbirds will be Friday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. against Army West Point. NEC play will begin on the road to start 2019 with a trip to Bryant on Saturday, January 5 at 1:00 p.m.
2018-19 NEC Women's Basketball
Preseason Poll
1. Robert Morris (5)
2. Saint Francis U (2)
3. Sacred Heart (3)
4. Bryant
5. (tie) St. Francis Brooklyn
Mount St. Mary's
7. LIU Brooklyn
8. Central Connecticut
9. Fairleigh Dickinson
10. Wagner
2018-19 NEC Women's Basketball
Preseason All-NEC Team
Nneka Ezeigbo, RMU, Jr, C, 6-2, Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame
Sydney Holloway, BRY, Jr, G/F, 5-10, Morgantown, WV/Morgantown
Jade Johnson, SFBK, Jr, G, 5-9, Adelaide, Australia/Immanuel College
Jessica Kovatch, SFU, Sr, G, 5-9, Phillipsburg, PA/Phillipsburg
Kiana Patterson, CCSU, Sr, 5-6, Troy, NY/Troy