HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Horizon League preseason women's basketball poll,
as voted on by League coaches, administrators and media members,was announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Northern Kentucky was selected eighth.
"As we look forward to our new beginning in the Horizon League, our young ladies are preparing diligently for the challenges that lie ahead and we are excited to get the season started," said head coach
Dawn Plitzuweit, who enters her fourth season on the bench at NKU.
The Norse return almost 70 percent of the point scorers from a 2014-15 team that finished 19-14, reached the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Finals and earned a spot in the Women's Basketball Invitational for the third consecutive year.Christine Roush was an A-Sun Second-Team selection last year, averaging 12.5 points per game on 38.1 percent shooting from the floor. She was NKU's top free-throw shooter at 87.8 percent and had the best FT percentage of any returning Horizon League player this year. Roush also leads all NKU returners in rebounding with 4.2 per game.Roush will be bolstered in the backcourt by Rianna Gayheart, who dished out 3.8 assists per contest to lead the Norse along with scoring 5.8 points per game. Kelley Wiegman also returns for her junior season after netting six points per game and pulling down 2.7 boards.In the front court, sophomore Kasey Uetrecht will stand as one of the Horizon League's top returning shooters, connecting on 45 percent of her shots last year while averaging 5.1 points off the bench. Also a threat from long range, Uetrecht knocked down 45.5 percent of her 3-point attempts, tops among returning Horizon League players. Fellow sophomore Molly Franson as well as junior transfer Rebecca Lyttle are also expected to make big contributions for the Norse.Eleven-time Horizon League champion Green Bay was again picked as the League favorite, garnering 25 first-place votes and 302 points in the poll.Wright State finished second in the poll, taking four first place votes, while UIC, Youngstown State and Oakland rounded out the top half of the poll. Additionally, UIC's Ruvanna Campbell was named the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.
NKU returns to the court on Nov. 13, on the road against Miami (Ohio). Tip off at Millett Hall for the Friday contest is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. NKU's home opener will take place on Nov. 15 as the Norse welcome Indiana State to BB&T Arena for a 1 p.m. tip. For ticket information, visit NorseTickets.com.
| 2015-16 Horizon League Women's Basketball Preseason Poll |
| Rank | Team | Points (first-place votes) |
| 1 | Green Bay | 302 (25) |
| 2 | Wright State | 250 (4) |
| 3 | UIC | 210 (1) |
| 4 | Youngstown State | 181 |
| 5 | Oakland | 162 |
| 6 | Cleveland State | 161 (1) |
| 7 | Detroit | 157 |
| 8 | Northern Kentucky | 134 |
| 9 | Milwaukee | 71 |
| 10 | Valparaiso | 70 |
| | |
| All-Horizon League Preseason First Team |
| Player | School | Year |
| Ruvanna Campbell | UIC | Senior (Preseason Player of the Year) |
| Kim Demmings | Wright State | Senior |
| Mehryn Kraker | Green Bay | Junior |
| Rosanna Reynolds | Detroit | Junior |
| Tesha Buck | Green Bay | Junior |
| | |
| All-League Second Team |
| Player | School | Year |
| Dani Franklin | Valparaiso | Sophomore |
| Olivia Nash | Oakland | Senior |
| Terri Bender | UIC | Senior |
| Ashley Luke | Green Bay | Senior |
| Elena Popkey | Oakland | Senior |
