HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Returning four starters off of last year's 20-win team, which included a 12-6 conference mark and semifinal appearance in the league tournament, the Northern Kentucky women's basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the 2020-21 Horizon League Preseason Poll as voted on by the head coaches. Junior point guard Ally Niece earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Preseason First Team.

"As a team, we do not put a lot of stock into preseason rankings," said Camryn Whitaker. "We play in a very competitive women's basketball league with so many great teams. The fourth-place ranking is a testament to the work our players and coaching staff have put in and we will continue to focus on the process of becoming better each day."

Northern Kentucky finished fourth in last year's Horizon League regular-season standings and won its first two games of the League championship. The 20-win season was its first of the NCAA Division I era. NKU's fourth-place prognostication is also its highest preseason ranking since joining the Horizon League and its second-best as a DI program, trailing only the 2014-15 team that was picked third in the Atlantic Sun.

Ally Niece is coming off of a superb sophomore campaign in which she led the Norse with 13.1 points, 3.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. Niece closed the season on an absolute tear, pouring in four 20-point performances in NKU's final six games. The Independence, Kentucky, native needs just 85 points to crack the top-50 all-time at NKU, and only 57 assists to move into the top-20.

Whitaker added, "I am extremely proud of Ally and the work she has put in over the past two years. She has led our team on and off the court and I couldn't be happier for her."

Senior Kailey Coffey, junior Emmy Souder and sophomore Ivy Turner join Niece as the team's four returning starters. Coffey led the team at 7.8 rebounds per contest, while Souder contributed 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. Turner was the third-leading scorer at 8.8 ppg.

Northern Kentucky opens its Horizon League slate the weekend of December 12-13 when it plays host to Youngstown State at BB&T Arena.

#NorseUp
 
2020-21  #HLWBB Preseason Poll
Pl.      Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1.         IUPUI – 144 (12)
2.         Green Bay – 120 
3.         Wright State – 118
4.       Northern Kentucky – 105
5.         Robert Morris – 88
6.         Youngstown State – 84
7.         Milwaukee – 76
8.         Cleveland State – 64
9.         Oakland – 54
10.       Detroit Mercy – 38
11.       Purdue Fort Wayne – 24
12.       UIC – 21 
 
#HLWBB Preseason Player of the Year
Macee Williams, IUPUI
 
Preseason All-Horizon League First Team (alphabetical order by school)
Mariah White, Cleveland State
Macee Williams, IUPUI
Ally Niece, Northern Kentucky
Angel Baker, Wright State
Chelsea Olson, Youngstown State
 
Preseason All-Horizon League Second Team (alphabetical order by school)
Caitlyn Hibner, Green Bay
Rachel McLimore, IUPUI
Brandi Bisping, Milwaukee
Kahlaijah Dean, Oakland
Shamarre Hale, Wright State