Preseason WNIT | 5/1/2019 1:07:05 PM

FORT COLLINS, CO – With the balance of women’s basketball programs understanding the need to tackle strong competition as soon and as often as possible, the 16-team tournament field has been assembled for the 26^th annual Preseason WNIT, including two teams playing in the tournament for the fifth time.

The November event features a three-game guarantee for all teams, with first-round matchups and the bracket to be announced later this spring. All games are hosted by participating schools, with the championship game televised on CBS Sports Network.

The 2019 Preseason WNIT field includes Boise State (Mountain West), Davidson (Atlantic 10), DePaul (Big East), Drexel (Colonial Athletic), Miami OH (Mid-American), Missouri State (Missouri Valley), Oklahoma (Big 12), Oregon State (Pac-12), Pacific (West Coast Conference), Portland State (Big Sky), Prairie View A&M (Southwestern Athletic), South Alabama (Sun Belt), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland), UAB (Conference USA), UC Irvine (Big West) and UMKC (Western Athletic).

This is the debut appearance in the Preseason WNIT for Boise State, Portland State, Prairie View A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UC Irvine and UMKC. Oregon State, Pacific and South Alabama are in for the second time, while DePaul and UAB will be playing for the third time. It’s the fourth time for Davidson, Drexel and Miami, and both Missouri State and Oklahoma will play for the fifth time. All told, 12 teams reached the postseason in 2018-19.

“We’ve got a solid group of established programs from conferences with a national presence, but our mid-major teams have a proven ability to make noise and be very tough to handle,” said WNIT director Renee Carlson. “While everyone wants to eventually have a memorable postseason, teams realize they better bring their best from the very beginning of the campaign.”

The 2018 Preseason WNIT champion was Iowa State, featuring second-round WNBA draftee Bridget Carleton. In 2017, eventual Final Four participant Louisville won the Preseason WNIT, slipping past Oregon (which ended up reaching the NCAA Elite Eight that season and the Final Four in 2019). In 2016, Notre Dame claimed the Preseason WNIT with a core of players who keyed the Fighting Irish’s run to the 2018 NCAA Championship and the 2019 NCAA title game. 
 
BOISE STATE
2018-19 Record: 28-5 overall, 16-2 MWC (lost to Oregon State in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament)
 
The Broncos set a school record for wins but didn’t quite get the reward they expected with a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Defensively, Boise State comes at you with determined effort, forcing nearly 19 turnovers per game last season and holding opponents to 41 percent shooting. As a junior, Braydey Hodgins was the leading scorer at 13.2 ppg; she shot a sizzling 41 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the free-throw line. The Broncos will be eager to see their prized transfer from Oregon hit the floor after sitting out last year – 6-foot-5 center Mallory McGwire. Her dad is former NFL quarterback Dan McGwire; Hodgins’ mother is a top 10 all-time leading scorer at Washington.
 
DAVIDSON
2018-19 Record: 17-15 overall, 10-6 A10 (lost to Marshall in Round 1 of WBI)
 
The Wildcats reached the postseason for the first time in six seasons and will look to two key returners (both juniors-to-be) in hopes of making the next leap. Sarah Donovan averaged right at 13 points and nine rebounds per game, and Katie Turner came through with 12.2 points and a team-high 138 assists. Look for more from last year’s freshman Cassidy Gould, an Australian native who had 16 points and eight rebounds in the WBI loss to Marshall. Davidson will look increase its shooting ability from long range, hitting just 30 percent of its 3-pointers. Head coach Gayle Coats Fulks (entering her third year) is rebuilding the roster; the team was 12-18 in 2017-18 and 6-23 the season before that.
 
DEPAUL
2018-19 Record: 26-8 overall, 14-4 Big East (lost to Missouri State in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament)
 
The Blue Demons won 11 in a row before earning the No. 6 seed in the NCAA’s and getting upset by No. 11 Missouri State. Returning for her senior run is Chante Stonewall, who averaged 14.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg last year and was second on the team in steals; classmate Kelly Campbell runs the show nicely, with the No. 5 assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation last year (168 to 47 overall). Lexi Held had a nice debut as a freshman and her minutes should be on the rise; she shot 39 percent from 3-point range. Head coach Doug Bruno (734 career victories) has run the show with the Blue Demons for 34 years and seen his team reach the NCAA Tournament for 17 consecutive seasons. DePaul is previewed at 20^th overall in ESPN’s early projection poll for 2019-20.
 
DREXEL
2018-19 Record: 24-9 overall, 14-4 CAA (lost to Harvard in Round 1 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Dragons aren’t typically in a hurry, letting their defense carry the day. They allowed just over 50 points per game, which led the nation in scoring defense, and opponents truly labored to hit 3-pointers against them (24.5 percent). Drexel needs to score as well, and Bailey Greenberg will return for her senior year after averaging 17.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game – she was named the CAA Player of the Year. The strong senior class also includes key returners Aubree Brown (33 starts, team-high 137 assists and 8.1 ppg) and Niki Metzel (32 starts, 8.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 78.5 percent FT). Head coach Denise Dillon has guided Drexel to third place or better in the CAA each of the past five seasons.
 
MIAMI (OH)
2018-19 Record: 23-9 overall, 13-5 MAC (lost to Western Kentucky in Round 1 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Redhawks welcome a new head coach, DeUnna Hendrix, with the program enjoying the momentum of back-to-back 20-win seasons. Megan Duffy coached the team for those two years; in April she was tabbed to replace Carolyn Kieger at Marquette, while Hendrix was head coach at High Point for seven years. Lauren Dickerson will be back for her senior year after making the all-MAC first team; she finished with 16.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, leading Miami with 162 assists. Classmate Savannah Kluesner also had a strong year with 13.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The Redhawks announced a five-member recruiting class in November; the team is looking at key additions including Peyton Scott, who topped 2,200 points in her prep career.
 
MISSOURI STATE
2018-19 Record: 25-10 overall, 16-2 MVC (lost to Stanford in Round 3 of NCAA Tournament)
 
After starting the year 1-7, the Lady Bears upset multiple teams last postseason as a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament; that prompted Tennessee to reel in Kellie Harper as the Vols’ new head coach. Missouri State then hired Amaka Agugua-Hamilton; she was the associate head coach at Michigan State for the past four seasons. Key senior Danielle Gitzen is gone, but the rest of the roster is back – Alexa Willard and Brice Calip both averaged double figures in scoring. MSU was a handful on the boards, finishing 17^th in the nation in rebounding margin. With all the returning talent, Missouri State only has three players coming in as freshmen, including Tor’e Alford, the starting point guard for Kansas’ 2018 Class 6A champion.
 
OKLAHOMA
2018-19 Record: 8-22 overall, 4-14 Big 12 (no postseason)
 
The Sooners have seen a rebuild happen before; head coach Sherri Coale started in Norman in 1996, not long after OU had totally shut down the program in 1990. She has three Final Fours under her belt and is bringing back all but one player from last year (the roster had 10 freshmen and sophomores). Junior-to-be Ana Llanusa missed 10 games after foot surgery but averaged 18.3 points per game, going 34 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Taylor Robertson had an impressive debut season with 14.3 ppg; she hit 105 3-pointers (46.7 percent), the second-best percentage in the nation. Incoming freshman Liz Scott, a 6-foot-2 forward, is ranked as the nation’s No. 9 overall player, and is part of the nation’s No. 11-ranked recruiting class according to Prospects Nation.
 
OREGON STATE
2018-19 Record: 26-8 overall, 14-4 Pac-12 (lost to Louisville in Round 3 of NCAA Tournament)
 
The Beavers have become one of the true powers in the Pac-12 and have reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for four straight seasons; they sit at No. 6 in ESPN’s early projection poll for 2019-20. Among other reasons, the roster is notable for its daunting height; in mid-April Oregon State added 6-foot-9 Serbian center Jelena Mitrovic, who will suit up with 6-9 sophomore-to-be Andrea Aquino and other role players who top out at or above 6-6. The team was 8^th nationally in rebounding margin. But the guard play is fantastic; junior-to-be Destiny Slocum averaged 15.4 ppg and 5-10 Mikayla Pivec enters her senior year after scoring 15.2 ppg to go with 9.2 rpg. Kat Tudor is hoping to return for her senior year after missing 21 games last season with a knee injury.
 
PACIFIC
2018-19 Record: 19-13 overall, 10-8 WCC (lost to Arizona in Round 2 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Tigers went 38-55 in head coach Bradley Davis’ first three years as he reset the program, but last season showed the mission to be on target. Four starters return for 2019-20, including junior-to-be Valerie Higgins, a USC transfer who averaged right at 17 points and nine rebounds per game, and classmate Brooklyn McDavid (14.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg), along with adding three transfers who will be eligible early. Don’t be surprised to see a jump in production from senior-to-be Jessica Blakeslee, who closed with 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest. The Tigers shot just 30 percent from 3-point range last year but should get a boost from incoming Aussie freshman Sam Ashby.
 
PORTLAND STATE
2018-19 Record: 25-8 overall, 14-6 Big Sky (lost to Oregon in Round 1 of NCAA Tournament)
 
The Vikings won their first Big Sky tourney title since 2010; head coach Lynn Kennedy has invigorated a program what went 8-51 overall in 2014-15 and 2015-16 (his first year). Three fifth-year seniors were key to the success last season, and Portland State will lean on a class of six freshmen to help start the next chapter. The top returning scorer is junior-to-be Kylie Jimenez, who averaged 11.5 ppg and paced the team in assists with 156 and steals (85). As a freshman, Desirae Hansen hit the game-winning shot in the Big Sky title game; she was a 38 percent shooter from 3-point range. Two post player options, Savannah Dhaliwal and Tatiana Streun, are hoping to be back after ACL injuries.


PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
2018-19 Record: 17-14 overall, 13-5 SWAC (lost to TCU in Round 1 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Panthers had a terrific debut season under head coach Sandy Pugh, who took over after 18 years coaching fellow SWAC program Southern. It was the team’s first winning record since 2012-13. Prairie View A&M forced more than 21 turnovers per game, ranking ninth-best in the nation, and will be looking to sharpen its eye from long distance (below 30 percent from 3-point range). The team’s top-scoring returner is senior-to-be Dominique Newman, who averaged 8.3 ppg and led the team in steals (59). The incoming four-player group of freshmen includes promising point guard Kennedi Green and Gerlyn Smith (18 ppg, 7 rpg).
 
SOUTH ALABAMA
2018-19 Record: 25-11 overall, 9-9 Sun Belt (lost to Wyoming in Round 2 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Jaguars saw head coach Terry Fowler sign a three-year extension after the team set a program record for victories last season. There’s plenty of returning sizzle on the roster, with leading scorer and all-Sun Belt first-teamer Antoinette Lewis back for her junior year (14.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg). Savannah Jones shot better than 44 percent from 3-point range (she was 7^th nationally) and averaged 14.5 ppg as a sophomore, while senior-to-be point guard Shaforia Kines averaged right at 13 ppg. South Alabama will bring in two freshman post players next season in Ashanti Lavergne and Jaylen Mallard.
 
TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
2018-19 Record: 17-16 overall, 8-10 Southland (no postseason)
 
The Islanders reached the Southland Tournament title game, falling just short to Abilene Christian after upsetting the No. 2 and 3 seeds along the way. Two players returning for their senior year will be leaned upon; Dalesia Booth finished with 11.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg, and Alexes Bryant came through at 11.1 ppg and 6.6 rpg. The roster needs more from 3-point range (116 makes, 27.4 percent overall) but is very tough defensively, forcing more than 20 turnovers per contest. Head coach Royce Chadwick has 660 career victories. The incoming freshmen class includes Corpus Christi local Hayle Campbell.
 
UAB
2018-19 Record: 26-7 overall, 12-4 CUSA (lost to Arkansas in Round 2 of Postseason WNIT)
 
The Blazers have won 53 games over the past two years, as head coach Randy Norton has built a roster that can shoot (36 percent overall from 3-point range) and take care of the ball (fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation, one spot better than Notre Dame). Back for her senior year is Rachel Childress, who averaged 13.6 ppg and shot 41 percent from long range, and classmate Katelynn Thomas came through with 12.8 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Two other seniors-to-be, Miyah Barnes and Angela Vendrell, started more than 30 games last year. Incoming freshman Summer Schloss averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds per game as a high school senior.
 
UC IRVINE
2018-19 Record: 20-11 overall, 8-8 Big West (no postseason)
 
The Anteaters won 20 games for the first time since 1984-85, an almost shocking amount of progress from 2015-16 (4-27) and 2016-17 (5-26), the latter of which was head coach Tamara Inoue’s first year. The offense returns instant juice in junior-to-be Jordan Sanders, who averaged 20.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and senior-to-be Lauren Saiki came through with 12 points and 4.3 assists per game. UC Irvine will try to improve its board work, as it was 301^st nationally in rebounding margin. Incoming freshman Chloe Webb is a 5-foot-8 guard who averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game her last year in high school; the Anteaters will also welcome two players from Australia.
 
UMKC
2018-19 Record: 16-15 overall, 9-7 WAC (no postseason)
 
The Kangaroos’ nine WAC wins were the best for the program since it joined the conference in 2013-14, with a roster featuring 10 newcomers. Ericka Mattingly made the transition work from Butler Community College, averaging 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year as a junior; she also led the team in steals (99) and assists (186). Emily Ivory had a terrific freshman debut, closing with 10 points per game, and she shot great from long range (84 made 3’s, 37 percent shooting). The JUCO ranks will provide two new players next year, Naomie Alnatas from Iowa Western and Mandy Willems from North Iowa Area CC. Willems led all levels of women’s college basketball last year with 186 made 3-pointers.